Early VF oil cooler install

What year did they begin installing oil coolers on the Interceptors, and are any of the parts adaptable to the early VF's?
Thanks....

Oh, c'mon......nobody on this forum knows? :computer-noworky:

1986 was the first year with a stock oil cooler.

I have no idea if any of the parts interchange, you`re on your own there.

I have installed an oil cooler on my VF1000R(which is very similar to your VF) but I used a European VF1000F2F double throw oil pump to do it. Then modified the oil pan to accept it and oil cooler fittings since the castings are in place that allow the connection to be made.

[image: View Post]VF1000RS, on 22 September 2010 - 10:16 PM, said:

1986 was the first year with a stock oil cooler.

I have no idea if any of the parts interchange, you`re on your own there.

I have installed an oil cooler on my VF1000R(which is very similar to your VF) but I used a European VF1000F2F double throw oil pump to do it. Then modified the oil pan to accept it and oil cooler fittings since the castings are in place that allow the connection to be made.


Thank You for the reply!
What was the purpose of the double-throw pump, if you don't mind me asking?
I was considering a Lockhart-Phillips cooler, but figured if a late model stock cooler fit, it might save me considerable head-scratching....

The double throw pump has one rotor for feeding the engine and one rotor for feeding the cooler. Designed by Honda for oil cooler use. You need to feed the cooler without stealing oil pressure from the motor.

[image: View Post]VF1000RS, on 25 September 2010 - 02:03 PM, said:

The double throw pump has one rotor for feeding the engine and one rotor for feeding the cooler. Designed by Honda for oil cooler use. You need to feed the cooler without stealing oil pressure from the motor.

Wow.....thanks for that! I know the early VF's have their oiling problems....gonna do the oil mod on mine before I get it running.
I guess I'll search eBay for a double throw pump. Any particular years.models?

You will need to search ebay uk or another country then since the US did not get any of the bikes with an oil cooler. VF1000F2F(I believe 1985, maybe other VF1000F2 years). There were also VF1000R`s in other countries that had an oil cooler stock, 1984 VF1000RE I believe is one, probably other years as well. Also the VF1000 Bol d`or model had an oil cooler as well. Can`t remember the exact years or model designation.

Why not just run the cooler in series?

I would think the pressure drop across a cooler would be little to none.

[image: View Post]Chev, on 27 September 2010 - 06:28 AM, said:

Why not just run the cooler in series?

I would think the pressure drop across a cooler would be little to none.


Without the pump to create a directional flow, wouldn't the cooler just serve as an expansion chamber, allowing that much volume(pressure) drop?

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 27 September 2010 - 06:36 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Chev, on 27 September 2010 - 06:28 AM, said:

Why not just run the cooler in series?

I would think the pressure drop across a cooler would be little to none.


Without the pump to create a directional flow, wouldn't the cooler just serve as an expansion chamber, allowing that much volume(pressure) drop?


Fluid flow does not quite work like that.

While the cooler would be of larger cross sectional area and require less speed to achieve the same amount of fluid flow, fluid is incompressible and therefore; Mass In = Mass Out. Additionally, a fluid cooler with a larger cross sectional area would require less speed which is what creates pressure drop and that lower speed would make for a higher delta T.

Traditionally, oil coolers are positive displacement pumps and the 0.5-1 psi drop would be largely immeasurable when flow is concerned. I would venture to say that the connections to the oil cooler would be the largest of the restrictions in the system.

Or am I missing something like plumbing an oil cooler in series would be largely impossible due to the fluid passage network in the engine?

[image: View Post]Chev, on 27 September 2010 - 08:30 AM, said:

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 27 September 2010 - 06:36 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Chev, on 27 September 2010 - 06:28 AM, said:

Why not just run the cooler in series?

I would think the pressure drop across a cooler would be little to none.


Without the pump to create a directional flow, wouldn't the cooler just serve as an expansion chamber, allowing that much volume(pressure) drop?


Fluid flow does not quite work like that.

While the cooler would be of larger cross sectional area and require less speed to achieve the same amount of fluid flow, fluid is incompressible and therefore; Mass In = Mass Out. Additionally, a fluid cooler with a larger cross sectional area would require less speed which is what creates pressure drop and that lower speed would make for a higher delta T.

Traditionally, oil coolers are positive displacement pumps and the 0.5-1 psi drop would be largely immeasurable when flow is concerned. I would venture to say that the connections to the oil cooler would be the largest of the restrictions in the system.

Or am I missing something like plumbing an oil cooler in series would be largely impossible due to the fluid passage network in the engine?


I know that you know your stuff when it comes to pumps, so let me rephrase... let's say you measure the additional volume of the cooler & lines, and add that amount of oil to your system(preferably by "priming" the cooler upon installation). What is going to move the oil up to/over to/down to the cooler once it's installed? Would you study the oil passages in the motor diagrams and a cooler inlet hole in a positive pressure area, and return to the pan? Or?

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 27 September 2010 - 09:21 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Chev, on 27 September 2010 - 08:30 AM, said:

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 27 September 2010 - 06:36 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Chev, on 27 September 2010 - 06:28 AM, said:

Why not just run the cooler in series?

I would think the pressure drop across a cooler would be little to none.


Without the pump to create a directional flow, wouldn't the cooler just serve as an expansion chamber, allowing that much volume(pressure) drop?


Fluid flow does not quite work like that.

While the cooler would be of larger cross sectional area and require less speed to achieve the same amount of fluid flow, fluid is incompressible and therefore; Mass In = Mass Out. Additionally, a fluid cooler with a larger cross sectional area would require less speed which is what creates pressure drop and that lower speed would make for a higher delta T.

Traditionally, oil coolers are positive displacement pumps and the 0.5-1 psi drop would be largely immeasurable when flow is concerned. I would venture to say that the connections to the oil cooler would be the largest of the restrictions in the system.

Or am I missing something like plumbing an oil cooler in series would be largely impossible due to the fluid passage network in the engine?


I know that you know your stuff when it comes to pumps, so let me rephrase... let's say you measure the additional volume of the cooler & lines, and add that amount of oil to your system(preferably by "priming" the cooler upon installation). What is going to move the oil up to/over to/down to the cooler once it's installed? Would you study the oil passages in the motor diagrams and a cooler inlet hole in a positive pressure area, and return to the pan? Or?


Pretty much the only option is to re-route the oil coming out of the pump through a cooler before it goes through the engine. Although I don't know what would be required for that to happen.

I suppose it is possible to use a sandwich style adapter between the filter and the block.

]This is what I have on my Vf1000F...been on for 20 years

[image: Posted Image]

So, does the 1000F not have a lower radiator in front of the exhaust?

No...secondary radiator is behind the headlight.

[image: View Post]sixdog, on 27 September 2010 - 10:54 PM, said:

]This is what I have on my Vf1000F...been on for 20 years

[image: Posted Image]




Well there you go.

[image: View Post]sixdog, on 27 September 2010 - 11:24 PM, said:

No...secondary radiator is behind the headlight.


Where did you find the spin-on bypass for the cooler? And are you running a thermostatic bypass, or through the cooler all the time?

[image: View Post]buellosaurusrex, on 28 September 2010 - 10:43 PM, said:

[image: View Post]sixdog, on 27 September 2010 - 11:24 PM, said:

No...secondary radiator is behind the headlight.


Where did you find the spin-on bypass for the cooler? And are you running a thermostatic bypass, or through the cooler all the time?


I purshased the kit 20 years ago from a Honda dealer. No thermostatic bypass...I don't know but the ones I have seen all look the same inside. Maybe a used one on Ebay? The kit is a Lockhart but I think Derale made a kit back in the 80's...not sure though, my memory is fading fast brother!

I found this on Ebay but I'm not sure how the Yamaha fittings go....

http://cgi.ebay.com/...sQ5fAccessories

The cooler that sixdog shows is really the ticket. With the cooler sitting low you won't have any "drain back" issues causing you to get weird oil levels. In fact, there really isn't a lot of volume in the lines and cooler anyway.

The idea here is that you split off just a portion of the flow and run it through the cooler. Most of the oil passes right through the plate and into the engine like normal. There is always a slight pressure drop across any transition, that's the force used to push the oil through the cooler. Since it's a pressurized system your net flow to the engine is unchanged.

I've had a modification like this on the docket for my VF's for a number of years. It seems as though other projects have always gotten moved in front of it though. That's not to say that it isn't important, I think an oil cooler on these bikes is a terrific idea.

[image: View Post]JamieDaugherty, on 30 September 2010 - 08:45 AM, said:

The cooler that sixdog shows is really the ticket. With the cooler sitting low you won't have any "drain back" issues causing you to get weird oil levels. In fact, there really isn't a lot of volume in the lines and cooler anyway.

The problem with his install is that mine has a lower rad right where he put it. I'm thinking......... :idea3:

[image: View Post]buellosaurusrex, on 30 September 2010 - 12:00 PM, said:

[image: View Post]JamieDaugherty, on 30 September 2010 - 08:45 AM, said:

The cooler that sixdog shows is really the ticket. With the cooler sitting low you won't have any "drain back" issues causing you to get weird oil levels. In fact, there really isn't a lot of volume in the lines and cooler anyway.

The problem with his install is that mine has a lower rad right where he put it. I'm thinking......... :idea3:


Yeah, the 700/750's have that problem. I've considered a slender one turned on it's side to fit above the lower radiator. It would need to be skewed off to one side as not to interfere with the front tire. The mounting would be a problem and it might not look that great, but functionally it would be fine.