Hello just read another forum where it seems a wild rumor got out of control the originator of it said they had talked to someone at highlifter and they had said that mud getting in the radiator would cause serious damage and that a radiator was not a good thing I don't care where or who said this I strongly disagree does a grizzly not run without a radiator and yes it does get hot...but I ask you wouldn't an atv with a stopped up radiator from mud riding still run as cool as an atv without any cooling at all...Where are you at when you need you Kagey...how about putting this issue to rest...I apologize if I am wrong but I just can't see how someone could be afraid to buy a water cooled atv when they are bigger cc atv's on the market without radiator...

Artic Cat 500 auto...Stays cool with the water

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Sorry AtVing can,t be everywhere at one time, it is a good idea on a water cooled machine to periodically wash the radiator fins out from the rear and front of the radiator to wash out any accumulated debris. I have seen a few run hot due to this but it is not as a result of a design flaw or problem its just something that one needs to do to prevent such problems on Quads with radiators. when someone runs one hot it is normally a person who NEVER takes the time to wash his machine let alone clean the Radiator. One nice touch that I like on My Magnum 500 is the fine mesh screen that was installed ahead of the radiator it catches all but the smallest of particles and is very easy to clean with a water hose. I saw the post you spoke of and I wouldn't panic about it I also agree with you about the mud packed in the fins on the air cooled engines. I've seen this more often than the clogged radiators and that will also cause overheating esspecially in the summer months.

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Kevin Gowdy aka Kagey 1999 Polaris Magnum 500

 

and another thing.... This past summer I rode at a mudrun with Adam... He came up with a pretty good idea... take some fiberglass window screen material, and put it across the radiator grille. hold it on with a bungie cord or two, yeah.. IT might get full of mud, but when it does, just stop at the nearest creek take it off and wash it out... ALOT easier than driving your machine thru the river to clean it..

 

Atving, Liquid cooling is incorporated into ATV's for one specific reason, and that is efficiency. The gasoline engine will operate at its optimum peak performance level, if it is kept within a specific temperature range. Air cooled engines on the other hand, work well, but the performance is not consistant due to temperature fluctuations.
As an example, I had rode through some muddy terrain a few weeks ago. I finished my ride and went right to the car wash as I always do, and gave it a wash. Then last Sunday, went for another ride. After an hour, we slowed down in one area, and I looked down and my temperature light was on. I stopped immediately and shut it off. I couldnt understand why it was overheating, cause I have a liquid cooled engine. First thing I checked was the fuse, and it had popped. I replaced it with another, and it blew as well. I reached down and tryed to spin the fan blade, but it was stuck on a piece of mud. I chipped it off, replaced the fuse, and it worked fine.
It doesnt take long for the engine to overheat without the fan, and if you continue on without stopping, you could warp the head or sieze the engine completely !!!
So from now on, I will always reach under and give the fan a spin before I go for a ride.
Ron...Lt F500 Quadrunner