Oil cooler kit for 1980 GS1000?

[macbec29]

Any one have recommendations for a oil cooler kit for a 1980 GS1000S? It was a balmy 88 degrees here in San Jo yesterday so I took 1000S out for what was going to be its first long ride since being restored after a horrific crash. About 35 minutes in I noticed my Canadian temp gauge (centigrade) was climbing into the 150 - 180 range, which if my math is correct means 300 to 350 fahrenheit. Its just the start of the hot season here so I'm thinking I need to fix this somehow. Anybody have recommendations for a complete oil cooler kit that would fit my bike. I'm looking for something approximately 13 by 3 inches.

[Rob S.]

I installed the cooler that comes on the 1150 on my '82 11E. Plug and play, but my bike was designed with one in mind: oil lines go in on either side of filter cover (which has to be modified or replaced by an 1150 one). Horns sit nicely on top corners of cooler.

I believe you'll have to run lines around to the rear. I've seen people run them along the side, but I recommend you do like my old Z1's Lockhart: turn the cooler 'upside down' and run the lines over the top into the tunnel.

Size is no problem, and the change was dramatic. It used to run over 300, now I can barely get it much above 200. And I liked the fact that it's all in the family.

My 'thermostat' is a cardboard cover that I put on for winter.

[Rijko]

I like the oldschool Lockhart oil coolers.

Whatever you choose, i recommend using a thermostat.

[steve murdoch]

How deep are your pockets.
There are some beautiful high end kits from the UK.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/292752287099?hash=item442965657b:g:Wv4AAOSwnH1WYfW4&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4MAAOkhBTRf6w%2BTw084UrfZCxhdeDfjRCUSYX%2F11TPAiyTD%2BSBRz3DoUyjCU%2Bq5T36ECe%2BtcWwDZ0ulqlTGh1KQJiwo8PlKVTa%2FvO74G414eK3POb00MoYbqzcuZM8b3MlbhkiOs%2FCBtLie1K8%2FfdG0x3NKWRMLx6UgIlqK3vBeOTk8Femwr2URmI4zgmgNnLitQc4ucbxMbM78IOYRHcOkNNHCRuWi74mWtOCzTU0BdfpmRnvpiixFMhT8yWjPi0EcS1ZoVQ6DTlv2XvXHw80GdqOx0MerGvYz66KQcu3Cy%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4y1tNyJYg

[gtem]

I have an original Lockhart cooler with some sort of Kerker bypass(?) unit along with the correct oil pressure switch adapter that I pulled off a '82 1100G I resurrected. Let me know if you're interested I can dig it up, clean it up and take some pics.

[Nessism]

Can you post a photo of the IP? I'd like to see the Canadian spec gauge cluster.

[macbec29]

NESSISM: I'll post some pics of the instrument cluster tomorrow.
STEVE: I like the UK suggestion, everything in one package seems the easiest way to go, but yea that is quite a big bite out of my wallet. But as they say in the UK, in for a penny in for a pound

[Rijko]

STEVE: I like the UK suggestion, everything in one package seems the easiest way to go, but yea that is quite a big bite out of my wallet. But as they say in the UK, in for a penny in for a pound

no thermostat ... not saying that's crucial but for that price i would like one included ..

[rphillips]

Would an oil cooler thermostat change anything other than possibly warm up time? I don't remember the factory oil cooled GS's had thermostats... or did they?

[Rijko]

Would an oil cooler thermostat change anything other than possibly warm up time?

Well, that was my point - increased wear, may not reach operating temperature when it's cold, etc.

I don't remember the factory oil cooled GS's had thermostats... or did they?

Don't think so, and that question just stumped me.
Those bikes have similar amounts of oil, so total warmup time is probably the same.
So unless there's a design detail on those bikes i am missing like a restriction on the amount of oil that gets sent to the cooler,
i need to rethink what i've believed to be best practice for decades.
Great point, hope someone can shed some knowledge on this.

[bitzz]

I can't come up with any reason you would want a thermostat. Cooler oil is always a good thing, where adding complexity to your oiling system is a bad thing.

[Nessism]

I have an original Lockhart cooler with some sort of Kerker bypass(?) unit along with the correct oil pressure switch adapter that I pulled off a '82 1100G I resurrected. Let me know if you're interested I can dig it up, clean it up and take some pics.

It wouldn't be hard to beat that price using Earl's parts and that adapter from member gtem. I put an Earl's cooler on my old 850, and it was a fun project. In terms of the thermostat question, as long as the cooler used isn't overly large, I don't think the system will need one.

[rphillips]

Something I just remembered, there was something different about the GS1150 oil filter covers that routed more oil through the cooler, best I remember mounting & plumbing an 1150 cooler & keep using the GS1100 filter cover, very little oil would go through the cooler.

[Rob S.]

I can't come up with any reason you would want a thermostat. Cooler oil is always a good thing, where adding complexity to your oiling system is a bad thing.

Technically, if your oil doesn't go over 212 degrees f (and mine doesn't), it won't burn off any water that has condensed in it.

Something I just remembered, there was something different about the GS1150 oil filter covers that routed more oil through the cooler, best I remember mounting & plumbing an 1150 cooler & keep using the GS1100 filter cover, very little oil would go through the cooler.

Installing any oil cooler and not modifying (or replacing) the GS1100 oil filter cover is incorrect. I just bought a NOS 1150 cover.

[bitzz]

Technically, if your oil doesn't go over 212 degrees f (and mine doesn't), it won't burn off any water that has condensed in it....

I betcha if you put your oil temp sensor right at the oil pump outlet you'd find much higher temps.