TOPIC:

nice looking header!

those extra tubes will confuse people.

I've finally finished welding up the coolant pipes. In the last pics they were just tack welded.





Here's the mount I fabbed out of aluminum with the radiator on it.



I'm going to locate the radiator on the same hardware that previously held the left side saddle bag. Eventually I'll conceal it to look like an over sized saddle bag. Here's the mounting location.



Here's the radiator mounted.



Here's the back side view showing the mount. I still have to make up the hoses that will connect to the radiator.



KZCSI

Post edited by: KZCSI, at: 2007/12/09 10:40

I've never welded anything.
But from watching and listening to what my off-roading buds say about welding aluminum, you've done a great job there Bill!

I guess I missed the intention of you mounting the radiator back there.
Cool looking factor?
Just because I can/shits-n-giggles factor?
Less wind resistance?
???

I totally agree with scumbag.
Those cooling tubes sure are going to confuse some folks, especially if you polish them out enough to look like the headers!

I know my 79 KZ1300 had a habit of overheating on warm days. I have noticed that the ZN1300 radiators use a denser mesh between the water pasages. I did buy one for my 79KZ to see if I can stop the overheating. If you put spring swirlers inside your long Stainless lines they will work much better as heat discipators. Since the radiator on your bike will be well out of the main air stream, overheating is a real possibility.

Thanks 4R. Aluminum is a real challenge. Cleanliness is the secret. One thing about welding aluminum is that the heat travels so quickly you'll soon find that you can't handle the part, even with gloves.

I'm doing it to clean up the look of the front of the engine and to get the heat behind the operator. I'm first going to try it with the stock radiator but eventually I'll find a taller/narrower unit that won't protrude so much.

Hey otakar,

I actually bought an electric water pump to use as a booster, should I need it. I'm expecting that this setup will run cooler than the stock setup for a couple of reasons.

First, I'll have at least an additional gallon of coolant and ten feet of stainless tubing that will help shed heat.

Second, Take a look at the back side of the stock setup. You'll see that the hot air can hardly get out of behind the radiator. Even though I've got the radiator set where it is, it'll breath much more freely.

I've got lots more work to do. More pics to come.

KZCSI

Looks like a great project........keep the pics coming:)

Night_Train01 wrote:

Looks like a great project........keep the pics coming:)

Ditto!

i think its a lot of trouble for nothing really. in oz we sometimes get temps of 40 degrees celsius plus some my z1300 used to get hot until a mate made a scoop from fibreglass which mounted on the front of the radiator using the same bolts that secure the mesh. which directed the air towards the cores. it worked very well and never got too hot again.you can see the scoop in the pic.

How are you plannning to direct the air flow so it passes over the cooling fins? With it mountes sideways you are going to loas about 80% of it's cooling values unless you force air across the fins. Every bike, car and truck mount the radiator in front of the engine for a reason, maximum air flow. Great job on the pipes. They look very professional.

Nice work Bill.

arai60 wrote:

Nice work Bill.

I have to agree. Nice welding and fabrication. A louver with the open ends facing forward would direct the air through the radiator and also conceal the radiator itself.
Keep us posted.