Oil cooler on airhead maxim

Hey all,

Where it's getting warmer out now I had a question... Has anyone ever fitted an oil cooler to a maxim airhead (83 650 to be exact)? I Figure it should be doable, there appears to be mounting bolt holes in the frame and all. It'd be neat I figure to hook one up if possible.

Marcel

 

You certainly CAN, all you need to is find the "setup" from a 650 Seca. The thing with those holes in the frame though: they may or may not provide you with a "bolt up" solution.

I say this because in other parts of the world, the XJ550R came with an oil cooler. But it attached to a different bracket, welded on below the one that was originally there; so I can't guarantee you that is what those holes are for.

That being said, I'm sure a new upper bracket could easily be fabbed to utilize those holes. That's what I plan to do; I have an oil cooler setup from an FJ600 that I'm eventually going to fit to my Seca 550. But not until I can get rid of the mechanical tach, and figure out how to make it look like it came that way.

The attachment at the motor is the same for all of them; there's a flange with fittings on it that gets "sandwiched" between the filter housing and block, and the hoses run to/from it.

 

Yes, you can easily put one on. Just have the bottom adapter that goes behind the filter cap. also, at the top, you may need to a couple metal adapters to go from the the filter to the the mounting holes on the frame.

I've only seen them put on three 650's so far.............all three of those went through my yard.

Dave F

 

They tell me it is. I have the parts to do it. Have yet to actually perform the task, and you bet your connecting rods I'll be documenting the process.

That's the part that's killing me. See, the horns get in the way... which is where the top of the radiator ends up.

I've run into an odd situation with mine; seems the stock filter housing won't fit behind the header pipes if I put the cooler plate in. I'm told it shouldn't be a problem, but it is with mine. The good news is, I've got a second spinon filter kit that's been sitting here that will be pressed into service.

 

I was wondering the same thing with my '81 550 Maxim.
The horn is already out of the way, as it is tucked up under the tank, and I have holes up front that look like where the radiator would go. I've noticed in the XJ4Ever catalog that he has some parts for the oil coolers, but the adapter specifically lists other models than the 550.

Does anyone have or know where I can source the right parts to do this? This is my #1 modification I would like to make at this point since I am over 30k in miles and it looks like our weather is staying hot. There's a local shop here that makes custom lines if I needed that to be done. I want this so much on this bike that I have thought about trying to fabricate this. Finding parts that fit would be a dream.

Why do you have to get rid of the mechanical tach?

Any help and I would be forever grateful.

 

I mounted a Stock 900 Oil Cooler and Lines on my '83 750 Max.

Remove Stock Horns -- Place near Rear Signals.
Filter Adaptor and Lines require NO Mods,

Mounting the Cooler:

The Coolers Center Mounting Post needs to be extended.
Unless the Cooler is LOWERED ... there is Interference with Steering.

Buy a PVC Hose REDUCING Union.
Achieving "Shock-Mounting"

Place 5 Tight-fitting O-rings on the Oil Cooler Post.
Lube with Synthetic Grease.
Press-fit Lower PVC Union on over the O-rings.

Place Anti-rattle "Material" on Upper PVC - O.D.
Press fit Cooler into Receiving Braze-on fitting.

Mount Lower Cooler Bracket to Frame using existing holes where Horns were Mounted.
Fabricate Mounts.

Allen Cap Screw ::> Nylon Washer ::> Flat Washer ::> 1/4" Rubber Hose ::>> Cooler Bracket ::> Nylon washer ::> 1-1/4" Rubber Hose ::> Nylon Washer ::> Bike Frame ::> Washer ::> Lock Washer ::> NyLock Hex Net.

900 Oil Cooler Mounted on 70 Maxim

 

i've got a derale cooler on my 1100 :lol:

 

Cooler goes in FRONT of the frame, bolted to the frame. The horn for the 650 maxim is BEHIND the frame, and is bolted to the horn mounting bracket, in front/above the front edge of the the valve cover. There's no need to re-locate the horn.

Dave F

 

Awesome, thanks guys!

I'll keep an eye out, would make a nice improvement for the old Maxim. Do you have to prime the rad with oil or anything beforehand? can't be gravity sucking that oil up there?