I received my new Radiator from IMS, which for those that are concerned, is a Fluidyne Radiator.. IMS is a dealer.

due to an accident, my fan and fan motor were damaged along with the radiator. Kawasaki wants like 200+ bux for a fan motor and another 15 bux for the fan blade.. I got a Fluidyne 7" electric fan for like 80 bux..

Question... Is the Stock fan assembly a "Pull" type fan? I'm assuming it is because its behind the radiator, but I would like to make sure.. I'm hoping I'm able to make the whole assembly fit without any real modifications. Also, there was a hose that plugged into the fan.. I assume it was some type of vacumm? Can I safely plug that hose??

Also, when I install the new radiator.. Do I just need to pour in antifeeze and thats it? anything special i need to do?

The Radiator looks like a drop-in replacement.. has all the bolt and connects in the same spots as the stock, which should makes things easier to install.

My fan comes in today. so hopefully tonight I will have a running V and be able to ride this weekend..

Next Paycheck - IMS Bumper and that radiator guard that a forum member here makes (which will prob look REAL nice with the new radiator).

TIA

 

Pkspwan,
The hose on the fan is probably a vent for pressure inside the fan motor housing. These fans are usually a little waterproof and therefore have a seal on them. Route the vent hose high to avoid getting water in it when you cross streams, rain, etc. Did the original fan have a vent hose?

Secondly, after installation, fill the radiator with 50/50 antifreeze and water, if that's what you usually use. Start the bike with the radiator cap off and the radiator full. Once the bike warms up and the thermostat opens up, you should see the antifreeze level in the radiator drop as the antifreeze mixture gets routed through the engine. Fill the radiator back up while the thermostat is opened until the radiator is full. You should be able to see the antifreeze mixture circulating and maybe a few air bubbles escaping. After you have the radiator full, fill the reservoir to the required level.

That's what I would do.

Standard caveat:
I'm not responsible for any damage that may occur if you follow my advice. You do this at your own risk.


Just covering my butt. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Hope this helps.
Mark

 

LOL[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img], Thank you............... I think [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

Thats basically what I was thinking.. Fill it... run it, fill it again.
I'll need to see where that hose that was connected to the OEM fan runs to.. friend said it was prob some type of vacumm.. Either way, i guess it should be safe to plug and prevent water/dirt from getting into it.

 

If it is like the prairie fan, that is a vent hose for the fan. The fan is sealed so it needs to be vented. The Praire hose runs up to the handlebars.

Does IMS have a website? I would like to see if they have Prairie radiators.
Thanks

 

I actually haven't looked at the fan on my bikes. But I had installed an optional fan on my Suzuki King Quad (few years ago) and the hose that came with it wasn't vacuum but a vent as I mentioned earlier. I'll take a look tonight.

RE: my caveat, I'm glad you got a kick out of it. I never know with some folks on this forum. I didn't want anyone screaming at me. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Mark

 

how'd you get yours already? didn't i order mine first?

 

LoL, I'm very impatient, got it 2nd day delivery.. the Radiatoris awesome.. Followed the instructions that Markdf suggested. Should only need 1 container of AntiFreeze (I used that stuff that was already 50/50 premixed) It didn't take a whole bottle.

My fan was busted also, and the electric motor. So I contacted Fluidyne and asked about their Fans.. They said they did not have a fan to fit this particular radiator, it was made for use with the stock fan. I ordered their 7" electric fan, it cost like 60 bux.. I believe you can find it for like 45 if you search around. I then took the fluidyne 7" fan, and removed it from the shroud. there's a C-Clip that holds the fan to the motor that needs to be removed in order to get it out of the fan shroud. I ended up breaking the clip, but the auto parts store had clips that fit. I then took the OEM fan motor out of its mount. And "made" the fluidnye fan fit.. You will only be able to get two holes to screw in, the second hole you have to force/bend it in some.. the third peg will not go into the fan motor, but it sits right against the post, and if you screw the nut down, it will pinch the edge of the fan. This was actually a secure fit. We have to bend the shroud some to make sure the fan blades were spaced out (did not hit the sides) and also to get the holes to line up with the radiator.. It wasn't that hard at all.

Then the test... Filled up the radiator. Closed the radiator, rode around the block a few times. Opened the radiator, the level remained the same, with the cap off, if we rev'ed up the bike, we could see it sucking the antifreeze in.. What scared me was I didn't see the fan kicking on at all..

So the real test. went out riding Saturday, was kind of hot and humid, and I was also riding with a passenger. The bike got hot, but the overheat light didn't come on and I rarely heard the fan kick on, but the fan is kind of loud (i don't remember how loud the OEM was) but when i put my hand behind the fan, you can feel it pulling alot of air. I think it would run for like 90 seconds and that was it.

So, if you want to save yourself alot of money, if/when your fan motor goes,, get the fluidyne, its an almost drop-in fit and 60 or less, versus 250 for OEM.. Its a no brainer.

Also the vent hose, like someone pointed out, it just runs to the handle bars, its more like a breather hose. I just removed it and tossed it. Saturday I did alot of riding in the woods, and riding in the river with the bikes front end under water at times. Sunday I did bout a good 4 hours in the mountains with all the coal dust and riding on the silt and mud. The radiator and fan held up great.

Welp, hope this helps out anyone that finds the need to get another Radiator, and or Fan.. the 399.95 for the radiator is well worth it from IMS.

 

So im taking it as this radiator is suppose to cool more than stock one? Is it bigger or "deeper" because i think thats the only way it would ever make it run cooler. Also i guess you got it from imsproducts.com? I would like to find another place besides that (thats cheaper), that sells them as well as the bigger fuel tanks for the V. Anyone know of a place?

 

Well, you could contact Fluidyne directly and get the part number from there and then contact dealers from the dealers page to see if they carry that model.. I think it was something like FHP-750KW (sorry, tossed the box already) was their number.. IMSProducts.com's partnumber is FHP-700KAW. Fluidyne will sell direct, but only at retail prices

Yes the radiator is bigger, its thicker than Stock and its also aluminum which I'll assume has better cooling properties. Like i previously mentioned, I don't notice the fan coming on as much. And I'll assume if I use a different coolant, such as engine ice or evans coolant, that it would make the bike run even cooler.

OEM radiator costs like 423 from bikebandit.. You can get it from ronayers for like 312? Also, on IMS, they saw that PWR makes the radiator for the V.. and i've seen this on other sites.. You might want to search around for PWR and see if its the same raditor or not.

As for the bigger tank. I thought about that, and my friend laughed at me, and asked why waste the money for a tad over 1 gallon? Just strap a gallon on the bike if you really want it. Do you see yourself getting that bad of gas milage?? For 225 bux your only looking at .8-1.4 gallons more??

 

just got my radiator! gonna goput it on now.