Author Topic: Oil cooler for a CB500?  (Read 4027 times)

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Offline KCRSXTypeS

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Oil cooler for a CB500?
« on: August 05, 2009, 04:23:53 PM »
How hard is it to find an oil cooler for these bikes?  Is it going to be beneficial to put one on a stock motor or do I not need to worry about it?  Are there any bikes that I can pull an oil cooler off and it will go on the 500?  Where can I find an oil cooler?  There is one on Ebay I am thinking about getting right now but if its not going to help my bike at all then I wont.

Offline Shenanigans

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Re: Oil cooler for a CB500?
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2009, 04:38:33 PM »
The oil cooler adapter plate is the same for the 750's 550's 500's.

As far as if its needed with a stock motor'd bike? Honda didn't seem to think so and I think they knew what they were doing... Unless your going to be driving back and forth across death valley.  ;D
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Offline tlbranth

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Re: Oil cooler for a CB500?
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2009, 05:46:26 PM »
Been all over Death Valley in the early 70's with temp well over 110. Couldn't believe the 750 stayed running but it never missed a beat. That said, I think an oil cooler wouldn't hurt. I started building one back then but never finished it.
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Offline KCRSXTypeS

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Re: Oil cooler for a CB500?
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2009, 06:44:29 AM »
Do you know where I can just pick up the adapter plate?  Im sure I can use any old oil cooler.

Offline big blue

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Re: Oil cooler for a CB500?
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2009, 12:47:17 PM »
Could try this. Bottom of the page. I have the oil filter adapter plate and it works well.


http://www.randakks.com/Oil%20Filter%20Adapter%20Filter%20Fitments.htm
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Offline KCRSXTypeS

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Re: Oil cooler for a CB500?
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2009, 01:11:17 PM »
But the fitment chart doesnt say you can use it with an oil cooler for the CB500

Offline big blue

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Re: Oil cooler for a CB500?
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2009, 01:21:55 PM »
Sorry. Try this.

http://www.randakks.com/Engine Parts.htm
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Offline Gordon

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Re: Oil cooler for a CB500?
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2009, 01:27:28 PM »
You really, really don't need one for where you live.  In fact it may do more harm than good.  Probably not noticeable harm, but then any benefits wouldn't be noticeable either.  Your engine is happiest and runs best when it's at full operating temperature.  An oil cooler will prolong the time it takes to reach this temperature.  When the temperature starts dropping, and especially in the Winter, this effect will only get worse.  

If you want an oil cooler just for the sake of having one or you like the way it looks, then that's fine, but don't expect to see any benefit from it.  

Offline KCRSXTypeS

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Re: Oil cooler for a CB500?
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2009, 01:59:22 PM »
You really, really don't need one for where you live.  In fact it may do more harm than good.  Probably not noticeable harm, but then any benefits wouldn't be noticeable either.  Your engine is happiest and runs best when it's at full operating temperature.  An oil cooler will prolong the time it takes to reach this temperature.  When the temperature starts dropping, and especially in the Winter, this effect will only get worse.  

If you want an oil cooler just for the sake of having one or you like the way it looks, then that's fine, but don't expect to see any benefit from it.  

Im moving to FL in November ;D

Offline NitroHunter

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Re: Oil cooler for a CB500?
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2009, 02:30:05 PM »
Kinda off the subject - but here's an oil cooler story.
I moved up to Seattle from San Diego when I was discharged from the service. The old 836 bike I had was equipped with an oil cooler, albeit without a thermostat. Not much call for extended warm ups down there.
My early morning commute to work would warm the motor up quite nicely - until fall. I removed the cooler (for the winter) and everything was OK - until an unexpected snow storm hit one afternoon.  :o
My normal 20 minute ride turned into a 2 hour boots-on-the-pavement ordeal, snow flakes were sizzling when they hit that roasting hot engine. Shifting was almost impossible and the motor was like a blast furnace!
I finally made it home safely. I drained the oil after the snow left, that Castrol 20-50 didn't smell very nice - to say the least.
After that, I took to watching the weather report a little closer... ;D
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Offline Gordon

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Re: Oil cooler for a CB500?
« Reply #10 on: August 07, 2009, 02:45:38 PM »
You really, really don't need one for where you live.  In fact it may do more harm than good.  Probably not noticeable harm, but then any benefits wouldn't be noticeable either.  Your engine is happiest and runs best when it's at full operating temperature.  An oil cooler will prolong the time it takes to reach this temperature.  When the temperature starts dropping, and especially in the Winter, this effect will only get worse.  

If you want an oil cooler just for the sake of having one or you like the way it looks, then that's fine, but don't expect to see any benefit from it.  

Im moving to FL in November ;D

Still, a stock motor doesn't need an oil cooler.  I rode my 350 and 400F in Austin, TX all the time in the Summer, 100+ degrees, with no problems. 

Like I said, if you just like the idea of having one or like the way it looks, then go for it, but don't expect it to help anything.  Keeping oil at a lower temperature can help extend the serviceable life of the oil, but considering 6 month oil change intervals and the fact that these engines use the engine oil as transmission oil, too, you won't be able to go longer between oil changes anyway. 

Offline TwoTired

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Re: Oil cooler for a CB500?
« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2009, 03:28:44 PM »
How hard is it to find an oil cooler for these bikes?  Is it going to be beneficial to put one on a stock motor or do I not need to worry about it?  Are there any bikes that I can pull an oil cooler off and it will go on the 500?  Where can I find an oil cooler?  There is one on Ebay I am thinking about getting right now but if its not going to help my bike at all then I wont.

It's easy to find an oil cooler.  It's harder to find one with the required thermostat/bypass valve included.  If not, it will likely over-cool the oil more often the have it get to the proper operating temperature.

If you have an oil cooler and the oil never gets to a temperature that opens the bypass valve, the oil stagnates and any condensation in the oil begins to form amino acids hungry for bits of metal to eat.  The valve also makes complete oil changes a bit of a challenge, unless you drain the cooler in a separate operation.

Don't get an oil cooler with the expectations of cooling the engine.  It's an oil cooler, not an engine cooler. If your oil is wearing out faster than you think it should with heavy use and power loadings, then you might extend the oil quality a bit longer with one attached.

Also consider where the oil cooler dumps it heat.  Does it do this right in the airflow path of the engine's primary cooling system, that being the fins on the head?

How about this?  Since you just want it for looks, go ahead and mount it out front and run the lines down to a fitting JB welded to the engine case.  That way you get the looks you crave with out all the hassles associated with it.

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Offline KCRSXTypeS

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Re: Oil cooler for a CB500?
« Reply #12 on: August 07, 2009, 03:38:00 PM »
How hard is it to find an oil cooler for these bikes?  Is it going to be beneficial to put one on a stock motor or do I not need to worry about it?  Are there any bikes that I can pull an oil cooler off and it will go on the 500?  Where can I find an oil cooler?  There is one on Ebay I am thinking about getting right now but if its not going to help my bike at all then I wont.

It's easy to find an oil cooler.  It's harder to find one with the required thermostat/bypass valve included.  If not, it will likely over-cool the oil more often the have it get to the proper operating temperature.

If you have an oil cooler and the oil never gets to a temperature that opens the bypass valve, the oil stagnates and any condensation in the oil begins to form amino acids hungry for bits of metal to eat.  The valve also makes complete oil changes a bit of a challenge, unless you drain the cooler in a separate operation.

Don't get an oil cooler with the expectations of cooling the engine.  It's an oil cooler, not an engine cooler. If your oil is wearing out faster than you think it should with heavy use and power loadings, then you might extend the oil quality a bit longer with one attached.

Also consider where the oil cooler dumps it heat.  Does it do this right in the airflow path of the engine's primary cooling system, that being the fins on the head?

How about this?  Since you just want it for looks, go ahead and mount it out front and run the lines down to a fitting JB welded to the engine case.  That way you get the looks you crave with out all the hassles associated with it.



 :D  No, it wasn't just for looks, I was just wondering if it would benefit at all and i had found one cheap that I had considered getting but its too late.

Offline Gordon

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Re: Oil cooler for a CB500?
« Reply #13 on: August 07, 2009, 03:44:28 PM »
:D  No, it wasn't just for looks, I was just wondering if it would benefit at all and i had found one cheap that I had considered getting but its too late.

Good.  You'll be better off without it.