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Another Tunnel Cooler Option for all years of TS Kit

M
Jan 14, 2004
3,079
1,390
113
I built this cooler for my Cr500 which will also work on the 2015 and 2016 kits with no mods to your kit.

M5

DSCN2923.jpg DSCN2924.jpg DSCN2925.jpg DSCN2926.jpg DSCN2927.jpg
 
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dirtrebel

Well-known member
Premium Member
Nov 26, 2008
429
277
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Bozeman, MT
looks great!

looks real good m5! I'm a big fan of the heat exchanger it flat out works! I'm not an aluminum welder yet, but have been wanting to get a tig setup for a while now, I was wondering if you have many problems with cracking on something like that? I've had some stuff welded for me at a local shop and it has been good thus far, but for some reason I seem to always worry about cracking especially on something holding coolant that you really do not want to leak. I'd like to get my exchanger moved forward like you have done so the hoses can be as short as possible, so I was thinking about doing something like what you have done.
 
M
Jan 14, 2004
3,079
1,390
113
I've built quite a few coolers over the years and so far so good. The thing with TIG welding is you have a hot start compared to MIG which is a cold start weld so you can really get in there and get good penetration on the weld which goes a long way to eliminating cracking.

M5
 
M
Jan 14, 2004
3,079
1,390
113
Funny when I first posted this thread I didn't get a whole lot of responses but now I seem to be getting a bunch of questions about my cooler and how I built it so here it is. I started with an in tunnel cooler from a Yamaha Nytro MTX. The cooler needs to be shortened about 2 inches in order to be able to fit it in through TS frame. I whacked the mounting flange off of it and welded on mounting tabs for the adel clamps. Lastly you need to remove the brake disc then bend and fit the spigots around the hub and weld them on. The cooler can be removed by just pulling the brake disc and caliper off which is no big deal. With the placement of the cooler being where it is the rad hoses are nice and short.

M5
 
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ravenous

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Oct 21, 2013
170
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43
Looks good, M5.
I mounted my version 1 tunnel cooler
in the same place, using the same clamps.
Except I used a heavy duty oil cooler/exchanger
that looked kinda like a regular rad.
Towards the end of the first ride the clamps broke and the exchanger slammed up and down a million times and destroyed itself. Lost all my coolant. Chit!
Your exchanger looks way tougher.
Version 2 has the Arctic Cat cooler back in the
"conventional" spot. It has been trouble free
for a couple of seasons.
Your location is nice because its free space and
closer to the center of the bike.
Nice one.
 
K

kell8071

Well-known member
Feb 4, 2013
216
48
28
Vashon, WA
I understand the theory behind a heat exhachnger cooling a snowmobile via snow kicking up on it but the only time I have cooling issues is on the trail and I can't imagine they get that much snow on them if it's a little icy. Is the tunnel cooler just acting as a larger heat exchanger (or radiator) and a larger coolant capacity in these situations or do you guys still get some overheating in the spring?

Kell
 
N
Mar 21, 2016
599
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NW oregon
I understand the theory behind a heat exhachnger cooling a snowmobile via snow kicking up on it but the only time I have cooling issues is on the trail and I can't imagine they get that much snow on them if it's a little icy. Is the tunnel cooler just acting as a larger heat exchanger (or radiator) and a larger coolant capacity in these situations or do you guys still get some overheating in the spring?

Kell
My understanding was the main cooling problems that snow bikes experience is running too cool rather than needing more cooling. Is this exchanger for bikes that don't have very good cooling already?
 

swedenturbo

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Dec 4, 2009
330
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Sweden
Cool cooler!
face-icon-small-wink.gif

I suggest using some additional rubber exhaust dampers.
They will take out most of the vibrations that cause the clamps to snap.
Here some photos of those I used on my intercooler.
af008a21effe1c9ee6fc92322b7c9eba.jpg

647d217fa682fed0e4a9b59df150ee5f.jpg

9583a7af2e70bc9ab22dcb0d39c12817.jpg
 
M
Jan 14, 2004
3,079
1,390
113
I've had the clamps on my tool box snap before. What I have found is the clamps are available in both steel and aluminum, the aluminum ones are basically NFG for anything, they snap in about 15 minutes, the steel ones last. Swedenturbo, I'd probably do something like that if I was starting over but I just want to ride the thing and quit wrenching and fixing broken chit. As for the cooling thing we are mostly talking big 2 strokes here, the thumpers have their own issues.

M5
 
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K

kell8071

Well-known member
Feb 4, 2013
216
48
28
Vashon, WA
As for the cooling thing we are mostly talking big 2 strokes here, the thumpers have their own issues.

M5

I was asking in regards to my cr500 that runs hot if it doesn't get extra cooling from snow constantly being kicked up onto the motor. Requires extra "breaks" in the spring or less than ideal snow.
 
M
Jan 14, 2004
3,079
1,390
113
I knew you were on a 500 but it just slipped my mind, my bad, sorry. In answer to your question the bikes run about 30-40 degrees cooler everywhere. You do end up with a fair bit more coolant in the system which helps keep temps more even. Kell, do you have a temp guage? What are you seeing for temps?

M5
 
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hwwee

Member
Lifetime Membership
Jun 17, 2016
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Question for you M5!

Do you happen to have any more of these coolers? Have a price for one? I am looking at putting one on my 2016 SX137 for my KX500 and checking the market out now! If so drop me a line! Thank you!
 
L

lcc

Member
Apr 25, 2008
29
16
3
I happen to have several of those coolers Available I'll sell for $145.00
 
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