Cooling fan for dirtbike?

[hondarider102]

Wirelessly posted

Anyone hooked up a fan to cool your dirtbike? Last few times riding in the woods I've noticed that the overflow tube ends up steaming when I get stuck on some hill climbs or I'm waiting for someone, and I'm talking like 30 seconds to a minute of sitting not 5 minutes or anything extreme. I would like to hook a fan into my wiring harness somehow but electrical is my weak spot. I know it can be done, I have seen it online but with poor write ups. Debating if a CPU fan from a computer would do or should I get a stock streetbike fan off eBay?

[TripleTaco]

What bike?...The kx250F in your profile? Your going to need a stator with some decent power to run a fan, which that mx bike does not have.

[hondarider102]

Yes the kx250f in my profile. Theres a guy on thumpertalk who is running a cpu fan with the stock stator and wiring harness so i know it can be done. i may end up signing up on that forum and messaging him, just figured i would check here first to see if anyone had done it.

What bike?...The kx250F in your profile? Your going to need a stator with some decent power to run a fan, which that mx bike does not have.

[Kurlon]

Or, if you've got room, plumb in an overflow reservoir like big bikes use. Let it push water out when it gets hot, then suck it back in when you get moving again.

[Paul_E_D]

There's a cooling fan located on the right handgrip.

[hondarider102]

Or, if you've got room, plumb in an overflow reservoir like big bikes use. Let it push water out when it gets hot, then suck it back in when you get moving again.

I've thought about the overflow but i think i would rather keep it cool rather then just have extra hot coolant

There's a cooling fan located on the right handgrip.

yes that works most of the time but when your waiting for someone or stuck etc... the right handgrip just makes the motor hotter

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http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/1032730-suggestions-for-kx250f-on-trails/

[TheIglu]

CPU fan won't do shit.

[Paul_E_D]

Not to a muddy radiator. You'd need an array of fans.

[TripleTaco]

Yes the kx250f in my profile. Theres a guy on thumpertalk who is running a cpu fan with the stock stator and wiring harness so i know it can be done. i may end up signing up on that forum and messaging him, just figured i would check here first to see if anyone had done it.

Ah...fuel injection. Wasnt thinking about that. I just read your link. Looks like the guy on TT tapped into the FI plug. I wouldnt have guessed there is enough power there but apparently it works. No experience with battery-less FI myself. Sounds like it'd be best to just find out what this guy did to get it working. Cool stuff. Good luck

[Paul_E_D]

And I understand your reluctance to shut her down. That thing is a BITCH to start hot, but the hot start lever held open for 20 seconds or so before kicking seems to help.

[Paul_E_D]

Ah, FI, nevermind

[hondarider102]

Wirelessly posted

And I understand your reluctance to shut her down. That thing is a BITCH to start hot, but the hot start lever held open for 20 seconds or so before kicking seems to help.

It starts up easy hot... It's FI, no hot start lever.... Just don't want to start it ever minute, I've found a lot of times you stop at a turn wait 30 seconds and as soon as you see the person behind you catch up you proceed on.... Or in the middle of a hill someone gets stuck in front of you and your really not in an easy spot to restart the bike while on a hill... I'm only 5''8"....Just looking for a way to keep it cooler in those instances....

[ZX-12R]

You would probably be better served switching to a waterless coolant.

http://www.evanscooling.com/products...ports-coolant/

[hondarider102]

You would probably be better served switching to a waterless coolant.

http://www.evanscooling.com/products...ports-coolant/

Never heard of this stuff, is it similar to engine ice or better?

I never noticed a difference when running engine ice my streetbike though that's why i haven't switched yet

[maxim_X]

Have you tried the easy things like water and water wetter instead of coolant and a higher pressure rad cap? If your right on the edge of boiling over all the time normally riding that might just drop the temp and keep your water in enough to let you make the short stops and hill climbs that are giving you trouble. Plus it's cheap and easy to try.

Or get a cool running 2 smoke.

[typeone]

you're supposed to ride that section like this, no cooling fan needed



(oh, snap, i just stepped in it.)

[typeone]

You would probably be better served switching to a waterless coolant.

http://www.evanscooling.com/products...ports-coolant/

+1. you can get it from Zip-Ty http://www.ziptyracing.com/xs-coolant-1/

[ZX-12R]

Never heard of this stuff, is it similar to engine ice or better?

I never noticed a difference when running engine ice my streetbike though that's why i haven't switched yet

Engine Ice is still antifreeze (propylene glycol) and water so while you have an elevated boiling point, the water can still boil off as you are well aware. Evans products contain no water and have a significantly higher boiling point (somewhere over 350F).

Some of my riding friends have switched over to it and I'm sold from what I've seen. Once I have an opportunity to get to a dealer that carries it, I'll be switching my KTM 500 over which I've boiled over on a few occasions. On longer rides I carry a 1 quart fuel bottle full of antifreeze to cover my ass just in case.

[Paul_E_D]

Does that mean you can overheat without even knowing it?

[typeone]

yes.

[hondarider102]

Does that mean you can overheat without even knowing it?

yes.

umm... so wouldn't this be just as bad as whats happening now?
my main goal here is to prevent my engine from damage.... maybe it's not a big deal i just did not like seeing the steam coming from the bike when i just paid 7k for it and don't have 2-3k to rebuild the motor anytime soon.

[Paul_E_D]

What IS the actual temp where you can warp an aluminum head? or cause the oil to lose effectiveness?

[typeone]

umm... so wouldn't this be just as bad as whats happening now?

if the bike is maintained well and you play it smart, no.

the waterless coolant will help in the conditions you describe but i def wouldn't sit idling forever or not take a little cool-down break after a real nasty section in extreme heat to play it safe. the rides i've been on with you lately, we could just keep going.

[typeone]

if you want to try it, and feel better about what might or might not happen with your bike... just give Ty Davis a call at Zip-Ty. those guys are great. explain your environment and conditions, they'll know what to fill you in on.

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What IS the actual temp where you can warp an aluminum head? or cause the oil to lose effectiveness?

not sure, i'd have to do research but i know a Husky guy that cooked an ECU running Evans... but the oil looked fine.

EDIT: AND his gas was at a rolling boil but not the coolant. HOLY Fark. (Reno NV though)

[Chippertheripper]

I think oil changes something at 345ish.m


Edit: the obvious solution is- find faster friends.