Topic: There is a radiator on my CB 750 1973 Why ???

[TwoTired]

The engine does not take on the temperature of the oil.  The oil takes on some of the temperature of the engine.  If you keep the engine cool, the oil stays cool.  If you block off the air to the engine cooling fins, or raise the temperature of the air that the fins receive (so the air cannot absorb as much heat), the main cooling system for the engine is diminished.

This engine is primarily air cooled, not oil cooled.  The fins are sized to remove heat in hot climes with the engine making power.  The fins actually over-cool the motor under other circumstances (such as cold outside temps and lower power output).  There is no thermostat on the engine fins to control temps as there is for a liquid cooled motor.   If you block off the cooling fins on an SOHC4 motor, and prevent air from flowing over them, I don't care how big your oil cooler is, the engine is still going to overheat.

I think you are onto something there TT...

Thanks RR, I think so, too.   
Maybe there is some merit to thermodynamics training and implementation of those training principles in a practical situation?

[myhondas]

I bought one in 75 and put it on my K4. Since I did a lot of touring (mostly in the summer) it was there to prolong the life of the engine. It is probably not needed but can't hurt to keep and if the only reason that you don't like it is the way it looks(i guess the tie wraps are the true source), you can always fix up the attachment appearance. Mine came with rubber coated aluminum wire holders that pretty much disappeared against the black frame. Personally, I would keep it just cause it helps rather than hurts to have it.

[Spanner 1]

It appears that oil-coolers on SOHC4's are of no use......now beer coolers, that's another matter !