Adding an External Oil Cooler

After 30 minutes or so of hard riding my oil light comes on on the Z500B 1980, the carbs have been set up professionally, the timing is spot on and it has been serviced recently. This is the only problem with the bike.

I was wondering how difficult it is to fit an external oil cooler?
Would the cases need to be be drilled and tapped or could i come off existing plugs/feeds somehow?

I believe the engine is very similar to the KZ550.

Thanks
Ian

Are you up for a cheaper solution? Try moving to a 20W-50 Motor Oil and see if the symptom disappears... either way get back to us with the results

Best of success.

PS
Do us a fovour and add your year, model and location to your signature for the best responses.

already tried that, it stays cooler for longer but the light still comes on after a while!
it may infact be longer than 30 minutes riding that casues the light to come on to, perhaps 3/4 hour is more realistic!!

I am working under the conviction that the oil pump system is very robust and long living as reported by so many members. So let's eliminate as many easier/cheaper things as possible.

I wonder if your oil pressure switch is out of calibration and turning on when the oil pressure is actually still in specification.

Can you try a known working oil pressure switch.

Best of success.

Adding oil cooler sometimes worsens early oil light problem, because of additional pumping requirements.

Problem might be a clogged oil pump pick-up screen, which can impede volume of oil flow into the pump.

Good Luck!

my first thought is to put a gauge on in place of the sending unit, verify that the oil pressure is really low.

What oil have you tried to date?

Patton wrote:

Adding oil cooler sometimes worsens early oil light problem, because of additional pumping requirements.

Problem might be a clogged oil pump pick-up screen, which can impede volume of oil flow into the pump.

Good Luck!

can i get to that without stripping the engine?

i've tried 10w40, 10w50 and 20w50

You can take the oil pan off with the lump in, you'll need an impact driver if you want to get the oil pump off.
Oil wise , try Shell Rimula 10 40.
Have you got a manual?
I'm in Lichfield. Staffs.
And I've got a 500 too:woohoo:

If it has been serviced recently,check to make sure the washer is on the spring under the oil filter.Also be sure to use a cheap filter, the higher,expensive filters like K&N let it flow too much losing some pressure overall,especially when hot.Use Valvoline 50 Wt. Racing oil in it will help some too.If you do pull the pan.Clean the oil pump screen,then remove it and Radius or bevel the edge on the inlet port,helps a little too.Also make sure the oil relief valve is not stuck in open/closed position on the oil filter bolt.

SPARKY47 wrote:

You can take the oil pan off with the lump in, you'll need an impact driver if you want to get the oil pump off.
Oil wise , try Shell Rimula 10 40.
Have you got a manual?
I'm in Lichfield. Staffs.
And I've got a 500 too:woohoo:

yeah i've got a haynes manual.
will try taking that off and cleaning it all out, it needs an oil change again,
do i need a new gasketfor the pan?
i'm in aylesbury bucks by the way

You can chance it,depends on the condition of the gasket, personally, I always change them.
From what I've learnt, oil change every 2500 miles.+filter.