Lockhart oil cooler

[B-radical]

General info wanted.  We're they something some dealers added or just an aftermarket part? Or?

[TOOLS1]

Just an aftermarket part.
TOOLS

[seestheday]

Is there any reason to add an oil cooler?  I guess if you're planning on riding it really hard?  Vintage racing?

[sgtslag]

An oil cooler can be really helpful, depending on how hot the engine oil is running.  My '79 K model ran at 250 F, at highway speeds, running a steady 60 MPH.  Considering that dino oils break down above 250 F, my bike was running at its thermal limit, for dino oil.  My cooling system cools the oil to 210 F max., almost always, under all riding conditions, thus far; cooler oil means a cooler engine, which means less wear on all components, longer engine life, and longer oil life, as well.  Originally, I installed the Oil Cooling System because I planned on keeping my Honda for many years, and it was a way to double (more, perhaps?) the life of the engine, reduce stress, and repairs, as it was 30 years old when I started on the Cooler project.  I had hoped it would really help us out when we were touring far from home, with our Debit Card as our only back-up.


It really depends on what a specific bike's engine oil temperature is running at.  Shiny related that his oil runs much cooler, but he has a SOHC, and mine is a DOHC, and they run their oil very differently.  Oil coolers are not only good for racing, they can be good for any bike, depending on oil temperatures (towing a trailer, for example, will add stress, and heat, to the oil, and the engine).  It is better to test the oil temperatures, before installing an oil cooler, if possible.  Cooling systems can be expensive, so if they really are not needed, best to do without.

The DOHC engines run at 72 PSI, max. oil pressure, and the SOHC engines run much lower, I believe.  This is another issue to be aware of, when installing a Cooler.  I don't know if the Lockhart radiators were designed for the DOHC pressures, or not.  If they came with worm clamps, I would say they were designed for lower pressure systems, as worm clamps won't hold 72 PSI!  Cheers!

[shinyribs]

MY SOHC bike runs about 60 psi oil pressure cold idling and around 30 psi at full operating temp. Anything above 3k rpm or so it pretty much holds a steady 70 psi. Just for the record. It used to be much lower,but I replaced the orings around the oil pump dowels and it shot up about 10 psi at hot idle and 10-15 at speed. Easy maintenance trick that is well worth the time spent. 1 pan gasket and a $10 case of o-rings from horrible freight

[Piute]

  It's been in low 100's here (s.w.Mo.) bike is blk. setting in sun all day then straight shot home no shade bike hit 250 couple times at 5-6k on tach (don't need no stinking speedo).Havn't yet to pull trailer,have a adaptor plate and oil cooler on the way from Flea Bay 45 bucks there 85 plus at cycle "X".So I jumped on a  "buy now".Had them on all othere bikes but 1 new "05"Heritage Had them then cause lots of city ridding to get any-were's in bay-area California.Should of put on fan.

[sgtslag]

Thanks, Shiny.  I was wondering what pressures the Lockhart radiators were built for.  I mistakenly thought the SOHC ran at much lower pressures, so I was not certain a Lockhart would be a good unit on the DOHC's.  Cheers!