Oil cooler for1981 xj550 Maxim?

:?: Is it possible to add an "oil cooler" to my 1981 XJMaxim[mint] or even beneficial?

 

yes, Ive seen a few adapters on ebay. It goes between the oil filter and engine block. Im not sure if chacal has them or not. Im sure some one will point you in the direction to find one.

 

It IS possible. Euro-market XJ550s (Seca styled) had them. I picked up a complete set-up from an FJ600 off eBay and will eventually fit it to one of my Seca 550s. However, I haven't quite figured out how the stock upper mount (the one bit I DON'T have) would have allowed it to not interfere with the tach cable.

That being said, I don't know how 110% necessary it is. I guess it depends on your riding habits, but I hammer the living daylights out of my '81 550 all summer with a 120 mile round trip commute into and out of Detroit, and it never seems to show any ill effect.

 

I would love to put on a cooler.
Here in northern az it still gets pretty damn hot
and my bike hates it!
But, as every one knows these motors are cold
blooded has hell and I ride in very cold temps this
time of year.
Maybe some more members who have made the mod
will chime in and give their opinions.

 

Thanks for the reply bigfitz52, your right about how well they run[when kept and maintained] properly. Just wondering about that oil cooler. Also a thanks to "parts" even though my 550 Maxim runs A-1 she loves the COLD or a least COOLER air.[I don't ride in the winter; here in southern Ontario,Canada area.

 

Guy, put your bike info in your sig and add some general location info to your profile, it helps keep the conversations in context.

 

im planning on riding from near Rockford to the flagstaff AZ area. ill prob be going late spring to late fall. do you think an oil cooler would help in my situation? There will be a Harley or 2 a 92 nighthawk 750, a Honda 650 and me! we are going to meet up with a buddy who is working his way into punch drunk sallys!

 

Flagstaff is 7000 ASL,so even in the hottest days of
summer you would not need a cooler.
On the other hand, Phoenix is 3 mile north of hell and
any additional cooling would be advised.
I'm at 5100 ft and rarely gets over 100 degs. But I often
ride south so I'm still debating the cooler idea.

 

yeah i wasnt sure about the distance or the heat in AZ. I have red hair and dang near transparent skin so the mid of the summer was a deff no go! lol

 

I had rode my XJ550 up 75 for three hours at 80 mph and it never had an issue with overheating. Sounds like a good idea if your in Arizona though. Make sure to always check your oil to before any kind of extended trip. It takes five mins and saves a but load of trouble

 

Lockhart oil cooler for sale-check out my ad in the for sale forum-

 

is there any way to install an oil temp gauge on a xj550? this will let me know if i want to drop the cash to install an oil cooler.

 

well I just bought a Lockhart oil cooler set up! ill post some pics in a few weeks after i get it on.

 

Stock upper mount is welded to the frame, it has a rubber grommet in it that the "vertical spike " on the oil cooler pushes into then has a r clip through it

Then two bolts through the oil cooler mount onto the frame cross tube on the bottom

The tach cable comes straight out and passes under the oil cooler

 

It goes up that high? Where do the big wire bundles go, over it still?

Could you take a few close-up photos, please?

Also, a question: Do/did your XJ550s have grab handles (lifting handles, standing handles) on BOTH sides?

 

Rusty-- please let "us" [the site] know how the oil cooler install went; post pictures if possible. Also did you also install the oil temp. guage as well?

 

no prob! I ordered it off fleebay so it will be lil bit before it gets here. I was thinking of putting a tee inline with the one of the oil lines so i could run a temp guage. any one see any issues with doing that? Im thinking then I get the extra cooling im after and Ill know how hot my baby is getting!