Oil cooler and high volume pump gears

[Jethro]

Recently I got myself an oil cooler off e-bay. I'm pretty sure it is a Suzuki original for the 1150 or something. It came with good lines and all the fittings to attach it, just need some new crush washers and the oil filter cap from the 1150 that I ordered off bikebandit.com.

Admittadly, I didn't do any research on putting this on the bike. It was one of those, "That would be cool on my bike" impluse buys. I got it for less than $20 and I pressure tested it- no leaks!

So I did a search today on the forum about the cooler and installing it, and discovered a few things. 1st, it seems that the general concensous is that on an unmodified engine, the cooler is no benefit. 2nd, the cooler really only works when you install high volume oil pump gears.

Well, I've already decided to install the cooler regardless. It looks cool. Maybe people will think I have a modern liquid cooled motor (like I care). My question(s) are if I need to install the 750 oil pump gears or not? Looks like Star racing might still sell 'em as they are in the most recent catalog I got. Also, what kind of job is this? Is it just one gear I need to replace? I can take the oil pan off while the motor is in place, right? I assume I'll need a new gasket, is there anything else I am not thinking about?

[Anonymous]

Hey Jethro,
I have a lockhart cooler with what looks like the 1150 filter plate on it (I am not sure, it came with the bike) and it does look good. And I have to ride for a while before the needle on my oil temp starts to move.
I would go ahead and install it, and keep an eye on your oil temp gauge, if it moves any oil through the cooler at all you will get some effect/cooloing, and any improved cooling is a good thing. Just the increased oil volume is a good thing
You can always go with the high flow pump later.

later,
Derrick

[SqDancerLynn1]

Just for info You have to remove the clutch assembly to gain access to the oil pump & it's the 4 valve 750 gears that are used

[scotty]

i stopped using synthetic oil in the winter after i installed the cooler. It is off now and i never saw any benefit by having it. Maybe the innards of the engine did??? I live in florida and the extra oil cooling was not needed even after i went to 1166 and 10/1 compression. Mine was a gs1100e and necer had a factory cooler as far as i know. I made mine from an oil cooler off a honda plus I used fabricated brackets. Nothing i own looks cool any way.

[DMPLATT]

Nothing i own looks cool any way.

Yeah right. I know better.

8) 8) 8)

[Joe Nardy]

Re: Oil cooler and high volume pump gears

So I did a search today on the forum about the cooler and installing it, and discovered a few things. 1st, it seems that the general concensous is that on an unmodified engine, the cooler is no benefit. 2nd, the cooler really only works when you install high volume oil pump gears.

Jethro,

I have to disagree that there is no benefit on an unmodified engine. The oil temp stays significantly lower with the oil cooler. Any time you get stuck in traffic and your engine stays cooler due to the cooler you are benefiting..............

Joe

[lhanscom]

Don't worry about the pump gears, the stock 1150 doesn't have the gears, but it does have the cooler, so it obviously doesn't need the pump gears to work right.

The extra flow wouldn't hurt though.

[scotty]

Re: Oil cooler and high volume pump gears

So I did a search today on the forum about the cooler and installing it, and discovered a few things. 1st, it seems that the general concensous is that on an unmodified engine, the cooler is no benefit. 2nd, the cooler really only works when you install high volume oil pump gears.

Jethro,

I have to disagree that there is no benefit on an unmodified engine. The oil temp stays significantly lower with the oil cooler. Any time you get stuck in traffic and your engine stays cooler due to the cooler you are benefiting..............

Joe

Have you seern that on your oil temp guage Joe.

PS thanks again for changimg your avitar. Every time I saw you post, I could hear the sarge yelling at the top of his lungs. LOL

The significantly lower temperature of oil can cause moisture buildup.

[Anonymous]

Oil Cooler

Terry Pendergast makes an adapter that fits on the GS1100E motor where the Temp and Pressure guage is attached that pumps oil STRAIGHT to the cooler. It makes a difference on my 1982 GS1100E(Z). When I first bought the bike it had a cooler and an 1150 oil filter cover on it and I would get to 250 - 300 if stuck in traffic. I now rarely get over 200 on. It works so good I bought another one for the 1983 GS1100E(D).

[Jethro]

Tim,

Don't I lose my pressure light when I use that adapter? That's no good.

[Mr. Jiggles]

I'm running stock oil pump gears (as far as I know) and definitely see a difference running an oil cooler - a good 30-40 degrees lower than without the cooler. The cooler itself gets a little too hot to touch comfortably after an extended ride. The 750 gears might help but since it's still a closed system with the cooler and the oil winds up in the same place I'm not sure why they might be a necessity.

[pano]

Jethro,

I put a Lockhart cooler on my bike about 18 years ago after I pegged my temp guage on a hot day in Laconia traffic.

My needle has not gone above 270ish since I put the cooler on and that is the absolute highest on the hottest day in the last 18 years. I think it is typically around 220-235 but I am not near my bike to look at the guage. I have the stock pump gears in now but I have a set of high volume gears on my bench that is on my current to do list.

I plan to fit a 90 degree shut off valve at one of the ports to the cooler to close it on cool days or at least keep it closed until the oil reaches temperature. Any of you guys have any thoughts on that.

[scotty]

Jethro,

I put a Lockhart cooler on my bike about 18 years ago after I pegged my temp guage on a hot day in Laconia traffic.

My needle has not gone above 270ish since I put the cooler on and that is the absolute highest on the hottest day in the last 18 years. I think it is typically around 220-235 but I am not near my bike to look at the guage. I have the stock pump gears in now but I have a set of high volume gears on my bench that is on my current to do list.

I plan to fit a 90 degree shut off valve at one of the ports to the cooler to close it on cool days or at least keep it closed until the oil reaches temperature. Any of you guys have any thoughts on that.

You are running in a desireable range because 220+ degrees will boil off the condensation which is a necessity. I took mine off because the bike was not getting hot enough even in the summer.

[Craig]

I am running a oil cooler, the 750 pump gears from APE, and a top end oiler. I noticed a big difference in the oil pressure with the new gears, and my bike runs fairly cool. The 1150 oil filter cover allows you to tap off of it for the cooler.

Kind regards...Craig

[crag antler]

Once I get a new hose for mine, I am putting mine back on.
While I was in Florida, in November, no less, I got stuck in some pretty bad traffic.
Big surprise 8O 8O .yeah right
Sat and watched the needle keep rising.
Sprang a leak I have yet to fix.
I would definately go with the cooler 8)