Hey chaps on my 1980 fxwg i have an oil cooler which i think is an after market part am in the process of making some changes over the winter and wont to lose the cooler any advice regarding this ? many thanks

 

I think the jury is still out on oil coolers. It is a subject that can go in the same direction as the type of oil that should be run in a shovelhead. I would think it depends on where you live. The shovel was designed to run a certain temperature for maximum performance and to get hot enough to burn moisture out of those aluminum cases, but cool enough to maintain performance and not seize the motor.
I never ran one, and never had a problem. I know guys in the southwest where temperatures can get over 110 f for weeks on end, and they run them. You live in the old country where it stays cool most of the time. I wouldn't run one there. Get a in-tank thermometer and see what the engine temperature is on a normal day. It should run 200-210. Anything under 180 is probably too cool. Anything over 220-230 is too hot. You can uncover the cooler during the summer, and cover it during the winter. Some others will chime in with their opinions.

 

Oil cooler on a shovel where you live partner is a waste , doesn't hurt but you'll never see the temps where you would benefit from having it . Over this side of the pond in desert or midwest states like Al mentions they are a big plus .

 

Thanks for your input as always ! i think the cooler will go ! it never really gets hot enough here to warrant it as you say have a mate with a shovel he hasnt one on his and has never had any problems , i ran the bike with it covered for a month or so and felt the bike ran better i think i knew the answer to this one but the more opinions the better ! many thanks again ! i have an in tank thermometer and it never gets above 150 although i dont trust it completely when the cooler comes off i will run the bike and test it with another thermometer to be sure of the actual running temps .

 

Mine has an auto temp controlled bypass just under the cooler. If it gets hot enough, it will open to allow oil to circulate through the cooler.

 

I have always run oil coolers on my Harley starting in 1971. Harley use to sell Lockharts way back when. The only bikes I did not run them on what my old flat heads as the pump was not up to it and being the where all original I did not want one. I even run one on my 02 ultra rig.