Growl
XS650 Addict
Since I got my cafe scrambler running, I've been riding with an infra red thermometer in my pocket and spot checking the temps... too high... at the head/cylinder junction just rear of the spark plug it got over 300f on a 90+ day . I need a cooler machine!
Been tuning the carbs but got fed up taking them off & on, so I bought a 2 into 1 manifold from Joe the Wiseguy. This puts the carb in easy reach. Jetting should help but thinking oil cooler too. Been reading XSJohn's posts about oil coolers and his experiments with wind deflectors. Some good ideas, he had.
My bike has vent ports cast into the heads and cylinders. These have cooling fins cast inside them. They start just behind the oil feeder tube and flow to the rear of the cylinders and also over the top of the heads, exiting above the spark plugs. There is an opportunity for improved cooling here! These ports are very narrow and the castings are crude. I looked in with a flashlight and discovered a couple pebbles lodged which I removed. Then I blew compressed air to remove a cloud of dirt. Now I have a new task to add to my regular maintenance! This will be helpful but it didn't seem bad enough to explain how hot it's been running.
It looks like some cleanup of the casting was done at the factory. Perhaps a little dremel work could improve flow. XSJOHN spoke of the right cylinder running hotter (on mine the left runs hotter). Maybe the irregularities in these ports might be the explanation?
I do think that a little more air flow directed through these ports would be cool.
Been tuning the carbs but got fed up taking them off & on, so I bought a 2 into 1 manifold from Joe the Wiseguy. This puts the carb in easy reach. Jetting should help but thinking oil cooler too. Been reading XSJohn's posts about oil coolers and his experiments with wind deflectors. Some good ideas, he had.
My bike has vent ports cast into the heads and cylinders. These have cooling fins cast inside them. They start just behind the oil feeder tube and flow to the rear of the cylinders and also over the top of the heads, exiting above the spark plugs. There is an opportunity for improved cooling here! These ports are very narrow and the castings are crude. I looked in with a flashlight and discovered a couple pebbles lodged which I removed. Then I blew compressed air to remove a cloud of dirt. Now I have a new task to add to my regular maintenance! This will be helpful but it didn't seem bad enough to explain how hot it's been running.
It looks like some cleanup of the casting was done at the factory. Perhaps a little dremel work could improve flow. XSJOHN spoke of the right cylinder running hotter (on mine the left runs hotter). Maybe the irregularities in these ports might be the explanation?
I do think that a little more air flow directed through these ports would be cool.
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