XJ650 - is it a good idea to fit an oil cooler?

how many of you guys run OEM oil coolers on bikes that weren't fitted with them?

I read about how bikes exported to the US were supplied without oil coolers during the speed restriction days - but Euro spec bikes all came with them fitted.
I soon take delivery (in hpthe UK) of a US imported 650 Maxim and like the idea of fitting a cooler for safer running, plus it seems a fairly easy upgrade to take on.

 

there's a lot of them still going without oil coolers.
mine seems to get hottest sitting in traffic, i think that's where it would be useful

 

Yes if you can find an oem xj650rj seca cooler by all means
Easy bolt on setup, adds a bit more oil to help engine and trans.
Also deleted from us market as a cost thing. The seca was a couple of hundred more than GS 650 and CB 650

 

I agree adding an oil cooler is a good thing. I have the XJ650RJ oil cooler on my Maxim-X motor mounted below the rad. The turbo has a bigger one and the one on my FZ600 is even bigger. XJ900 equally big. Whichever one you choose make sure you rubber isolate the mount like Yamaha did.

 

The answer is yes. Even if you are only an occasional rider, or avoid traffic and heat, the oil cooler will help increase the oil change interval and keep the valves cooler. There is no downside, unless you are a winter rider; then you may want to fit a shroud to the cooler to make sure the engine gets up to temp.

 

Where's the best place to source one? ePay?

 

I believe Xj4ever carries one. Check Hoggfiddles recent threads. He just did a thread on the installation. Seems super easy.

 

Yea he did, but I can't seem to find it . . . anyone?
I'm thinking I need (want) one.

Kmoe - what temperature would be considered 'winter riding'? I personally like a crisp ride (40's). Pondering if the oil cooler could have a couple 1/4 turn valves attached so as to by-pass it . . . or am I way off base?

 

Here you are:

http://xjbikes.com/forums/threads/oil-cooler-kit-installation-new-product-from-xj4ever.99262/

 

the cooler is full flow through the filter no shutoffs !!
A bypass valve yes, but that would entail way too many connections that could leak. And look ugly as sin imho.
Lockhart made a thermostat for the oil coolers to control cooling in cold weather.

 

I used a metal shroud over the front of the cooler on my scooter. Worked really well, particularly since the engine was a bit overcooled.
I consider anything below 4o to be winter riding temperatures, and generally stop riding when it drops below 30 (though the scooter allowed me to push things into the high 20's because of the extra coverage).

 

The kit looks great on that link, how much are we talking folks?

Do I just send a message to Len?

 

You can get temp controlled, or manual bypass valves for the oil cooler. Or as k-moe mentioned cover the cooler for lower temps.
Changing to a lighter weight oil in lower temps also helps.

~Ghost

 

Len (Chacal) has a thread posted regarding the cooler. Send him a msg. He will tell you whether he has one for your model and the cost. The cooler/spin on filter set up like k-moe has on his 750 is on my wish list.

 

Well I lucked out today and picked up a low mileage 650 Seca Turbo oil cooler full set up. Will get back in touch with Len soon to see if he can supply me with the necessary new o-rings, rad loop (and dowels?) required for installing on to my Maxim 650.
Will also pick up a spin-on filter adaptor from him for the full effect.

 

The turbo cooler and rj cooler are different. It's probably doable with some extra fab work. See what Len says.

Gary H.

 

The turbo oil cooler is only a direct fit to the turbo frame. I had to make mounting plates to fit one to my 750. The lines also had to be altered (though they would fit with an s bend as they came) I have no idea if the turbo cooler would fit as well to the 650 Maxim frame.

 

According to Len...no. Fab work will be required. The rj cooler is a direct fit to the 650 maxim, however, the top "loop" bracket for the cooler must be welded or bolted on.

Gary H.

 

To fit the turbo cooler onto the 650 Maxim, you'll need to:

- create an adapter bracket that adapts the radiator mounting holes to the cooler mounting holes in the frame.....it's about a 4-5" drop (if I recall correctly).
- shorten the cooler lines
- install some type of cooler upper mounting holder to accept the stud on the top plate of the cooler. If you're really creative, you can create a frame of sorts that the cooler bolts to, and which has a long "arm" that reaches up and over and grabs the stud, and then this entire frame bolts to bike.

K-moe has a 750, and those bikes came with the mounting point for the stud, so his work was much less involved (the drop-down bracketry needed to hold just the lower frame of the cooler to the frame holes would be much simpler to make).

BTW, all of the above applies to all 650 Maxim models, AND, just to make things a bit more miserable, on the 1980-81 models, you'll either have to:

- lose the tach, or
- convert to a later (82-3) electronic tach

since the turbo cooler will block the passage of the tacho drive cable.

 

If I understand correctly; there is a turbo oil cooler and a 'regular' oil cooler?
Is the turbo one for Turbo bikes or does it cool the oil at a turbulent speed?

 

The cooler for the XJ650 Turbo is larger (taller) and the hoses are shorter, as compared to the cooler used on XJ650 Euro and Canadian XJ650RJ Seca models........and that same cooler was also used on Euro XJ750 models. The non-turbo cooler is not as tall but a bit wider, and the hoses for the non-turbo cooler are LONGER. These changes are necessary because of the positioning of the cooler on the frame relative to the position of the engine, and, the non-turbo cooler is designed (and mounted) in such a way as to allow for clearance for the tach drive cable on the early 650 bikes and for the wire bundles that exit "the triangle" under the steering headpipe.

The much-more widely available 650 Turbo cooler and hoses CAN be made to fit the non-turbo models, but it will require quite a bit of fitting, fabricating, compromises (on the mechanical tach bikes), patching, piecing, and less-than-oem design features (i.e. spliced cooler hoses).

 

Gah - back to the drawing board then. I'd be much happier with the 'standard fit' RJ cooler.

Feel free to let me know if any of you fancy a turbo oil cooler set up!

 

So im now the proud owner of an excellent condition RJ oil cooler rad plus oil lines - I just need the adaptor plate (and a bunch of new seals/o-rings from Chacal).

Question: are the adaptor plates model specific? ie, would a 650 Turbo fit my Maxim?

 

According to part number 4k0-13464-01 that is the part number that is on euro and Canadian xj65rj and turbo models

 

Sweet. Thanks!

 

Also same as fj and fz600 models if you are searching for one.

 

While your looking I would love to get my hands on the euro model switch clusters that have pass to flash and headlight shutoff switch? Should be pretty common spares over there

 

Are they straight swap outs for Maxim parts then?

 

They might be I'll need a pic and I'll check wiring diagram

 

Total re wire nightmare. I would need entire wiring harness and relays

 

Darn. That'll take some dedication for a 'pass' flasher.

 

So could you run a 650rj without an oil cooler?

 

Only in the USA!

 

Goes to my point about 700/750x
We drive our bikes harder