TOPIC:

Anyone know if an oil cooler is needed for my engine ( 76 Kawasaki KZ900 ) and if so, what oil lines go to what port on the cooler. The output port fittings are there for a cooler but there was no cooler on the bike when I got it. I cannot find anything in my service manual regarding this. Thanks

A oil cooler is NOT normally needed on a 900.
Where do you ride ?
Hilly, Flat ?
Hot or Cold weather ?
Is the bike stock ?
Do you sit in traffic where there is no airflow ?
Pictures of your bike and existing fittings can help us help you figure out what you have .
A cooler is hooked up to a NON stock fitting behind the motor that directs oil from the pump, thru the cooler, and then thru the main oil gallery
Dave

This is the stock oil tube, with oil pressure sending unit.



This is after market oil cooler adapters. If you have these with a hose jumpered between them then you can easily mount a cooler to the front down tubes and route hoses to these fittings. These fittings fit n place of the stock oil tube and will need screw in hose barb fittings



Pictures of what you have will help us help you.

An example of the barb fittings

I have the after market fittings on the bike but no cooler. For now, I have joined the two oil ports with a length of hose. Can i plug off both ports if I decide not to install a cooler?

KennyJ wrote: I have the after market fittings on the bike but no cooler. For now, I have joined the two oil ports with a length of hose. Can i plug off both ports if I decide not to install a cooler?

NO, NO NO

Get the stock piece shown by MIKAW

If you plug both as you suggest the oil pump is cut off from the motor
Catastrophic failure will result
Dave

Thanks for the info. It does not mention anything about this in the manual. Since the oil cooler adapters are on the bike, I may as well in stall a cooler. Any particular brand I should look for?

Pics of the adapters?
Steve

Here is a example of a Earls cooler These are top shelf items
Lots of choice's . styles and sizes and fitting options too..
. Holley distributes them among others
Dave

Like Mr. Dave said, Earl's Supply coolers are one of the best you can buy. They like to be rubber mounted to keep the amount of vibration to the cooler to a minimum.

The Earl's coolers are also set up to use braided steel line and AN fittings. No Mickey Mouse rubber oil lines!!!!

This Earl's cooler has been on my bike since back in 1982. You can see how it sits on rubber grommets inside the cooler mount.

Dr. Gamma wrote: Like Mr. Dave said, Earl's Supply coolers are one of the best you can buy. They like to be rubber mounted to keep the amount of vibration to the cooler to a minimum.

The Earl's coolers are also set up to use braided steel line and AN fittings. No Mickey Mouse rubber oil lines!!!!

This Earl's cooler has been on my bike since back in 1982. You can see how it sits on rubber grommets inside the cooler mount.

Dr. Gamma, where did you get that oil cooler mount ?

That mount is home made out of battery box rubber dampers, I see an electro plate grommet in there as well. The straps are Z1 battery hold down... I love the uses of what’s on the shelf ingenuity