Top Mount Oil Cooler Hitting Cowl

[jeff0196]

For all of those running the top mount oil cooler, do any of you have a problem with the cooler contacting the cowl? I was fitting my cowl, and the cowl made contact with the top lip of the cooler, so I started trimming the corner of the lip on the cooler, just like you do on the bottom so the cooler doesn't hit the mount. Then I continued to fit the cowl, and found that the cooler is now hitting the body of the cooler between the two mount bolts and the single mount bolt. Hopefully you can see what I mean in the pictures.

This picture shows the cooler contacting the cowl in two places, 1 where I was trimming the top lip of the cooler, and more can be trimmed to correct, but 2 where the body of the cooler curves down between the mounting bolts:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4TJg ... 1hnX3Bmb2M

This is a photo of the cowl:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4TJg ... Ux3MURBclE

I did not get my cooler from CB, but assumed that all of the type 1 coolers are the same. If you have a cooler that does not have this problem, please let me know if it looks different. If you have an idea as why mine it hitting the cowl, please let me know.

Thanks, Jeff

[MichaelFarley56]

Hi Jeff,

That entire oil cooler flange where it's hitting cowl should be filed away. That's all extra material and of no use for us. In fact, the very top level of the "accordinan-like" metal does not have any oil flowing through it, so don't be afraid to file into that material as well.

I removed that flange (where yours is hitting) by taking the cooler itself and filing that flange away with a scotchbrite wheel, or you could use a file or whatever else you have. Once that flange is gone things will fit much better.

Try it and if you have any other issues, let us know!

[mike.smith]

Like Mike F says, you need to get rid of that entire top flange. I cut mine away with a Dremel cutoff wheel, then a Scotchbrite wheel to smooth it out. Don't accidentally cut the cooling tubes of course.

[wlarson861]

Not only did I cut the flange away but i used a round file to notch the top accordion to make clearance for the top hinge.

[jeff0196]

My fault for not being clear. I am NOT worried about the front lip of the cooler hitting the cowl. I already had removed material from it to the point that it was no longer lifting the cowl, and like I said, understood I could remove more material.

My question still is, do other's oil coolers contact the cowl in the location circled in this picture?

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4TJg ... VE1cllkZ0k

Mike F - I removed more material from the lip just to be sure, but as you can see, that did not change how it fit.

I can only imaging how much the engine moves while being operated, I am concerned about wear, even if I do get it to clear by just a tiny amount.

[MichaelFarley56]

Hey Jeff,

I do not have any issues with the cooler hitting the cowling, no. Tolerance is fairly close in that area; I probably only have 1/2" of clearance, maybe a little less. One thing that will aid in this situation is, when you install the rubber baffle seal behind the cooler, that will cushion the cowling and probably raise it up a little.

So, I know this is less than helpful, but to answer your question, I would want at least a small amount of cowling gap there but I wouldn't be super concerned if it was a small clearance. As long as you have 3/8"-1/2" or so, I would guess you're fine.

Just my two cents of course!