stevew
Parking Attendant
Posts: 12
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posted July 30, 2009 07:37 AM
ZX14 Radiator Electric Fans
I took a rock in the radiator on my ‘08 ZX14 a few days ago. I took it to a radiator shop to have the leaking tube welded. Should be good as new (I hope). While I have bike apart, I am removing the standard Kawasaki electric fan, and installing two 1100 CFM 7" electric fans side-by-side at the top of the radiator. These are similar, or possibly identical to those found at https://www.zx14.net/shop/product_info.php?products_id=480&osCsid=cmjpdp05rmh11vu2gqpcgkvm47. At 12V I measured both fans together drawing about 7.1 Amp, and at 14.4V drawing 9.0 Amp for both fans running simultaneously (2200 CFM). Seems this is within a comfortable margin although I have not measured the in-rush current yet. Nevertheless, I will change the main fuse to a 20 Amp, and plan on wiring separate 10 Amp fuses to each individual fan.
My questions is concerning the actual mounting the fans. I am a little bit concerned about using the traditional "through-the-radiator" zip-tie type of mounts commonly sold at auto shops for this purpose. The radiator tubes are not a beefy at those on a car, and I am concerned about damaging the radiator tubes using these ties and the weight of the fans given typical motorocycle vibration, etc. despite each fan only weighing 1 lb 14 oz.
Does anyone have any direct experience (good or bad) mounting such fans on the ZX-14 in this manner? Any other suggestions short of fabricating metal brackets and welding tabs onto the radiator to hold the fans?
Am I being paranoid?
Regards,
Steve
  
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BIGZXDADDY
Expert Class
Posts: 270
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posted July 30, 2009 10:00 AM
imo you should leave the stock fan like it is and order the cox racing radiator guard. the charging system is pretty weak allready and the second fan isn't needed
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"never drive faster than you can see, besides it's all in the reflexes"
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zxbob
Pro
Posts: 1692
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posted July 30, 2009 11:17 AM
If its at a radiator shop ..... make some brackets and have them weld em on !
Thats how I did the duel fans on my bike.
Bob
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Good parts aint cheap and cheap parts aint good !
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stevew
Parking Attendant
Posts: 12
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posted July 30, 2009 11:30 AM
Hi BIGZXDADDY,
Thanks for your response. I have indeed ordered a Cox racing radiator guard which should arrive in a few days. I expect with the installation of this Cox guard, it will further increase the temp on already hot running bike. This is why I am looking to supplement the cooling. Total current consumption of the dual fan setup is rather low, BTW, so I am not anticipating any charging problems, unless individuals have had different experience with a similar setup. If so, do tell.
Regards,
Steve
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ZX11D
Zone Head
Internet Police
Posts: 674
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posted July 30, 2009 11:42 AM
The Cox guard is quite light and thin that I do not think it hinders cooling in any way.
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'94 ZX-11
'07 ZX-14
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dcjens
Pro
Wet side of Washington
Posts: 1059
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posted July 30, 2009 01:40 PM
This has gone around a few times. if you are going to run 2 fans, use a relay so the stock harness is just a switch leg for it and use appropriate fuses on the power to the relay from battery. cheap protection there. I run 2 fans (stock ones like a connie setup)
They rarely turn on because of the ZX 10 fender mod. I modded the 4 way flasher switch to tun on the second fan manually in slow traffic. A person could get good results from a manual switch to the stock (single) fan for manual if it's a hassle to make your own brackets. I made mine and epoxied them on the way the stock fan is held on. look into coolant products for additional ideas. watch the decreased or no freeze protection. good luck!
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Black 06
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Obba
Expert Class
Posts: 455
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posted July 30, 2009 02:46 PM
There was a post whereby a guy showed a pretty good walk through on his home made brackets for his dual fan set up...
Was a long time ago though.
For all the people who say 2 fans are not needed: AFAIK, the cooler the better IMO.
Particulary, even better to have a manual switch - when needed, as cdjens has done.
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FasterThanStink
Pro
Posts: 1218
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posted July 30, 2009 05:54 PM
Schnitz Racing now sells a second fan kit.
http://www.schnitzracingstore.com/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=5132807&showprevnext=1
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Speed has never killed anyone,
suddenly becoming stationary...
That's what gets you.
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LAB3
Needs a job
Posts: 2977
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posted July 30, 2009 06:10 PM
quote:
Schnitz Racing now sells a second fan kit.
http://www.schnitzracingstore.com/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=5132807&showprevnext=1
It looks and mounts the same as the HPC.
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stevew
Parking Attendant
Posts: 12
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posted July 30, 2009 06:14 PM
The Schnitz Racing fan kit w/mounting hardware provided by the link above supplied by FasterThanStink looks identical to my setup (looks to be the same fan, mounting hardware, current consumption, etc.). Since they seem to provide the same "through the radiator" mounting hardware, it looks like I should now run into any problems. I'm essentially doing the same thing as Schnitz is offering (except x 2).
From the Schnitz link:
"A mounting kit is included, which is used to secure the fan directly to the radiator through the fins."
Steve
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JDC
Zone Head
Posts: 570
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posted July 31, 2009 12:41 AM
quote:
imo you should leave the stock fan like it is and order the cox racing radiator guard. the charging system is pretty weak allready and the second fan isn't needed
Steve,
If I were gonna do a 2X fan setup I think I'd go the way Bob spoke of... easy and those fans are pretty reliable. My fan hardly comes on, and if on only for a short time. I put on a Muzzy blade and that moves a lot of air. I have a single fan and so far the temp has been just fine here in S. Cal.
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BIGZXDADDY
Expert Class
Posts: 270
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posted July 31, 2009 11:40 AM
quote:
Hi BIGZXDADDY,
Thanks for your response. I have indeed ordered a Cox racing radiator guard which should arrive in a few days. I expect with the installation of this Cox guard, it will further increase the temp on already hot running bike. This is why I am looking to supplement the cooling. Total current consumption of the dual fan setup is rather low, BTW, so I am not anticipating any charging problems, unless individuals have had different experience with a similar setup. If so, do tell.
Regards,
Steve
you won't not have any charging problems from running two fans. what i meant is that the system won't handle a whole lot more than what the bike came with so you are limited on add on consumers. my electric vest is only eight watts but it will only run for 10-15 minutes before the solid state controller shuts it off because the voltage drops below 13.5 unless i keep rpm above 5k. of course the fans won't run continuous like the vest does. i don't think that the radiator guard resricts airflow through the radiator enough to make any kind of difference. as far as the bike running hot i believe that is more of a problem with perception than with the bike itself. i could understand running twin fans with a street turbo or maybe an overbore but not a mostly stock street bike. just my opinion and i'm sure others here will disagree
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"never drive faster than you can see, besides it's all in the reflexes"
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LAB3
Needs a job
Posts: 2977
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posted July 31, 2009 04:58 PM
A lot of the over heating problems are in stop and go rush hour traffic in 100+ degree weather. I noticed that mine ran a lot hotter when I got caught in heavey traffic where I sat waiting to move a car length every minute or so and after 30 minutes of this I worried it
was going over heat. A second fan like the C-14 has is the best way. No way I mount
a fan with zip ties thru the radiator on a street bike you ride every day. Have a bracket made
like ZXBob did.
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