Aftermarket Cooler Feedback

[Merlin]

Hello,


Looking for feedback from those who've installed any of the different aftermarket coolers available for an '11 Pro RMK 800 163".

Under normal riding conditions cooling is adequate, however I'm going to be spending a fair bit time this year riding with my 7 yr. old son at less than optimal trail speed for the Pro cooling system.

Even with scratchers, full snowflap(Dragon), & Water Wetter I still couldn't keep the temperature even close to in check last year.

Reports from those running the std. RMK show a marked improvement in cooling system performance. Just wondering if the rear mounted cooler offerings will be as effective as the front mount design of the std. RMK?

I've also contemplated the "$28 Upgrade" but feel that it's benefits will be negligible without additional cooling capacity for the lower speed operation.



Thanks in advance for your feedback,


Glen

 

[pus1100]

The front mount cooler in tunell is far more effective than any aftermarket rear mounted cooler.had van amburgh rear cooler on my 2011 pro 155. When i bought my 2013 std rmk improved cooling was the goal.

 

[Reg2view]

If you want to keep the sled, I think you're instincts on the $28 Upgrade is right - best next thing to do, since it lowers thermostat trap temp.

 

[Merlin]

TTT

 

[Snodawg]

I have a VEI tunnel with a full VEI U-cooler. Temps would still climb during low snow/ low speed conditions. Installed $28 upgrade. All this really did was prevent the cold shock during startups. Had no effect on better cooling. Now I wish I would have installed the Std. RMK cooler while doing the tunnel swap. Maybe next summer. I also run Water Wetter.

 

[Merlin]

Now I wish I would have installed the Std. RMK cooler while doing the tunnel swap.

I was contemplating that as well but it looks like a fair bit of work to install unless you already have your machine tore apart for other reasons.

From my perspective I think I'll just live with stopping for frequent cool downs & buy a new std. RMK & upgrade it's short comings when the time comes..........

 

[Butta]

I was contemplating that as well but it looks like a fair bit of work to install unless you already have your machine tore apart for other reasons.

From my perspective I think I'll just live with stopping for frequent cool downs & buy a new std. RMK & upgrade it's short comings when the time comes..........

You missed the perfect opportunity to upgrade to a std RMK with all the goodies on it. Keep an eye out for a '15 snow check std RMK for sale, you'll get everything you are looking for...

 

[gmustangt]

Short of putting a rad and fan on it your best options are additional cooler, ski scratchers , bolt through the back of the ski, thermostat, potatoe sack or equivalent filled with snow and put into a rack on the tunnel.

 

[gunnerthesnowman]

This is what i installed , works great , costed about $150

 

[Merlin]

Short of putting a rad and fan on it your best options are additional cooler, ski scratchers , bolt through the back of the ski, thermostat, potatoe sack or equivalent filled with snow and put into a rack on the tunnel.

I'll be putting ski scratchers on for sure.

I might try the $28 upgrade as well but I'm skeptical that it will help with much with improving cooling at low speed operation. Under normal riding conditions / speeds I think the thermostat mod. would be beneficial.

 

[Drewd]

This is what i installed , works great , costed about $150

WHo makes it?

 

[gunnerthesnowman]

WHo makes it?

I got the cooler material and had my welder buddy weld it up for me ,

 

[Merlin]

This is what i installed , works great , costed about $150

Thanks,


I remember reading Moose's thread on his front cooler install quite a while ago & thought it looked more promising than the rear mount options.

A few questions regarding your install:

Did you plumb yours the same as he did by connecting to the coolant bottle & cylinder head?

I'm assuming you made your own cooler, just wondering where you bought the extruded material? Any reason you didn't make it longer?

Have you spent much time riding at low speed with this mod.?


Thanks again,


Glen

 

[gunnerthesnowman]

Thanks,


I remember reading Moose's thread on his front cooler install quite a while ago & thought it looked more promising than the rear mount options.

Here is the link:
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=324778


A few questions regarding your install:

Did you plumb yours the same as he did by connecting to the coolant bottle & cylinder head?

Yes , connection are the same

I'm assuming you made your own cooler, just wondering where you bought the extruded material? Any reason you didn't make it longer?

I think " Moose,s " design was 18 inches long , i made mine 24 inches just because i am running a 870 big bore , you have to keep in mind that this cooler bypasses the thermostat and if you make it to big you could have a hard time getting up to temp. you just want enought added cooling that your thermostat ( stock cooler ) just opens , I also switched to the Terra Alps thermostat housing , much more flow and opens at a lower temp , my sled runs a steady 128 -130F

Have you spent much time riding at low speed with this mod.?

This cooler has been one of the best mods i done on my Pro , it takes alittle longer to get up to operating temp. , but i rather deal with that then overheating

Thanks again,


Glen

Thanks

 

[gunnerthesnowman]

Just though i would share a couple more picture , the crank is from my stock 800 motor , it started to tick , sounded like it was coming from the primary clutch so i rebuilded it , still ticking , so i removed the clutch and started the motor and the ticking was still there , so i tore it a part and this is what i found ( you can see the blueing of the lower rod , the play in the bearing was unreal ), save me a block / cylinders ,just had to replace the crank
The other two picture are of my water to air intercooler for my apex , this thing is very efficient in low pressure drop , i had to add 6% fuel just due to less pressure drop over my other water to air , its also very efficent in temp exchange , i have a temp. sensor on the turbo inlet , turbo outlet ( before intercooler) and after intercooler , i have a pressure sensor after turbo ( before intercooler) and after intercooler , i also have temp. sensors on the intercooler inlet coolant and on intercooler coolant outlet , i these points are data logged and the data is interesting to see how hot the turbo air outlet temps get and how much heat the intercooler removes , you can see the rise in interccoler coolant temps.
When i first installed this intercooler the coolant pump was to small ( 14L/min ) this core called for 30+L/min , so i have found a small compack low amp pump 34L/min going to test it this winter.
Well sorry for the long none related post to this tread .too much

 

[Merlin]

Thanks for the info.!


I might have to give this mod. a try.......

The cost will be reasonable & it'll be far less hassle that installing a factory RMK front cooler.

 

[Merlin]

Just though i would share a couple more picture , the crank is from my stock 800 motor , it started to tick , sounded like it was coming from the primary clutch so i rebuilded it , still ticking , so i removed the clutch and started the motor and the ticking was still there , so i tore it a part and this is what i found , save me a block / cylinders , replaced crank
The other two picture are of my water to air intercooler for my apex , this thing is very efficient in low pressure drop , i had to add 6% fuel just due to less pressure drop over my other water to air , its also very efficent in temp exchange , i have a temp. sensor on the turbo inlet , turbo outlet ( before intercooler) and after intercooler , i have a pressure sensor after turbo ( before intercooler) and after intercooler , i also have temp. sensors on the intercooler inlet coolant and on intercooler coolant outlet , i these points are data logged and the data is interesting to see how hot the turbo air outlet temps get and how much heat the intercooler removes , you can see the rise in interccoler coolant temps.
When i first installed this intercooler the coolant pump was to small ( 14L/min ) this core called for 30+L/min , so i have found a small compack low amp pump 34L/min going to test it this winter.
Well sorry for the long none related post to this tread .too much

That's a lot of data to log!

How did you fit all of the wiring under the hood?

J/K data is priceless when tuning / troubleshooting.

 

[gunnerthesnowman]

That's a lot of data to log!

How did you fit all of the wiring under the hood?

J/K data is priceless when tuning / troubleshooting.

Sensor wiring is very small and when you have a custom wiring harness its not that bad and yes data is priceless when tuning/ troubleshooting and for showing that a product does what you are selling it to do

 

[TRS]

I'll be putting ski scratchers on for sure.

I might try the $28 upgrade as well but I'm skeptical that it will help with much with improving cooling at low speed operation. Under normal riding conditions / speeds I think the thermostat mod. would be beneficial.

Merlin,
At low speeds the $28 upgrade will not help cooling, a onion or laundry sack filled with snow strapped to the tunnel will.

 

[Rick!]

Even with the standard rmk cooling system, you still need to run a minimum speed to keep it cool. At 15mph on a trail the coolant temp will steadily rise. At around 19-21mph, it will start to stabilize. A Pro needs to be at 24-27mph with both scratchers down to stay around 150-170ish or so. Following a kid around the yard at very slow speeds is really not a condition a water cooled sled is designed for.