I brought my Wolverine to a friend's garage to do some much needed repairs to it after my latest accident, and I made matters worse. I tried taking off my oil cooler, which was all pushed in and coated with mud, when I made a BIG mistake. I accidently broke off nearly half the cooler when I was trying to take off one of the oil lines. I don't know what to do. I can't afford $500 for a new one right now. If anyone has any ideas what I can do or where I can get a good price on a new one, I would really appreciate it. Thanks.

 

Bummer! For your information, Doug Blackburn installed a J. C. Whitney ((800) 837-4227, www.jcwhitney.com) oil cooler (they catalog about a half-dozen different-sized models) on his Bayou as an accessory, using rubber fuel lines and hose clamps, mounting the cooler with nylon wire ties; worked great.

A full factory rig, with the OEM model "radiator," as you call it, fitted metal lines, etc., would cost over $ 500 for the parts alone.

You might find an auxiliary oil cooler in stock at an auto accessory store or speed shop that would work, although Whitney's likely quotes a lower price. Good luck!

Tree Farmer

 

You can buy a transmission cooler about the same size as your stock oil cooler for about $30 at any good parts store. It may take some effort to mount it properly. Why is it you can buy a high capacity Aluminum radiator for a chevy truck 5 times the size of your oil coller for $100 with a lifetime warranty. $500!!!! That has to be a Joke. This is a prime opportunity for the aftermarket.

 

OK, I found an transmission cooler kicking around that I think I could mount pretty easily, but it has 2 problems. One is the fittings. I don't like the idea of just having hoses clamped to the cooler instead of fastened with steel fittings. That makes me nervous. I would hate for a stick or something to knock an oil line off without my noticing it. The other thing is, although the tranny cooler I found is bigger than my oil cooler, the oil passages are slightly smaller. I was wondering if this would restrict the flow of oil to the engine, or would it be ok?

 

Your fuel hose connects your tank and carburetor with clamps much less robust than the ones you might choose for an expedient oil cooler. The same is true for the breather hoses for your carburetor, engine sump, differential, rear gearcase, etc. But, if you sweat heavy-duty hose clamps properly tightened, or a slight mis-match in oil passage diameter, then fork over the $ 500 and buy a Yamaha oil cooler.

Tree Farmer

 

I understand that there are hoses and clamps used all over the fuel system, but there are differences between that and what I mean about the oil cooler. For one thing, the oil cooler's position at the front of the bike makes it much, much easier for a stick or something to hit it and knock it off. The other ones you mentioned, like the carb, are higher up on the bike, and in protected areas. The other difference is, unlike the other clamps and hoses used on the bike, if the one on my oil cooler happened to come off, I lose my oil, and quite possibly seize my engine. That's what's got me worried. I could make guards to help protect it a little better, but I'm still concerned about the the size of the oil passages. I don't know if it would restrict the oil flow too much.

 

Not just the fuel system. At least one side of CV and U-joint covers typically are secured with hose clamps. These clamps seldom come loose, despite exposure to rocks and sticks amid shaft rotation. Automatic transmissions on cars and trucks, including 4X4 trucks, feature small vacuum hoses connected to the vacuum kick-down actuators with hose clamps, often exposed on the bottom of the tranny's. Hose clamps, I suggest, are not as fragile as you might think; however, it's YOUR ATV. If you're convinced hose clamps provide unacceptable risk and you need the additional security of fitted metal lines, your peace of mind may be worth $ 500 to you. Or maybe you can devise acceptable alternative connectors. Good luck.

Tree Farmer