Ducati Monster Forum

I always wanted to swap out the stock S2R oil cooler for something a little less square looking. I never quite felt the stock bit fit the bike. I acquired a donor S4R oil cooler from Pompetta as the stock S4R bit had the look I was after. After some head scratching and some parts hunting, the project came together. The cooling is at least as good as the stock bit and the shape fits the lines I am going for a bit better.

(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e297/pennyrobber/oilcooler/DSC03402.jpg)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e297/pennyrobber/oilcooler/DSC03400.jpg)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e297/pennyrobber/oilcooler/DSC03399.jpg)

neato, nice work there ;)

off hand, does anybody know what size the fittings are for the oil coolers? do all modern ducati coolers have the same size fittings?

I'm glad you found something that works for you. I personally don't like it. I don't know if it's the mounting brackets in front of the cooler or what. I would have gone with the HMT or MTS oil line to open up the right side of the bike....

The mounting was an issue. I weighed the options of trying to place the mounts behind the cooler but because of the curvature, it made it too close to the wheel. I have also been thinking of a way to hang it from above by mounting to the frame somehow but I need to do a little more work to really figure it out. I am running with this for now.

HMT lines only...MTS ones are really long since the MTS oil cooer is located under the headlight in front of the triples. The angle the lines enter the MTS cooler is also weird compared to most other naked Ducs. I had to install a HMT oil cooler and lines on my Monstrada to get a good look due to the long lines and weird angle.


Could you make, or have made, custom mount brackets which go behind the cooler...but leave it in the same place it is now? I really like the look of the curved oil cooler, but the brackets seem a bit out of place.

I actually prefer the look of the cooler on the Testa motors. Now if you could just mount it in that location but upside down, it would look cool...

couldnt u have mounted it upside down?

I also took a slightly different approach. But I used the stock cooler and it didnt cost me a dime.  I also like it cause there is no more oil line running infront of the cam belt.

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg305/truckinduc900/SANY0756.jpg)

I like your setup, but I would have done it slightly different. All in all I think it looks good. And I much prefer the curved cooler. I need to start looking for one for my rebuild.

Anyone got an extra?

i like the look but i also wonder if you could mount it upside down.

you might need to get new hoses since it will be closer.

but it definitely looks better.

The problem with mounting it upside down is that a significant amount of air will  be trapped inside of the cooler. With the feed and return line at the bottom, there would be no easy way to avoid the air trapped inside.

Is it possible to run the motor for a short time with the oil cooler unmounted and oriented so as to let the engine push the air out?

I'd think the condition would repeat when you shut the motor down and the cooler drained.

Can't you just hang it in the same location, in the same orientation, but from the frame?

It doesn't have to be mounted to the horizontal head. And you can lose the mounts that would be unused by acquiring another valve cover.

I like the idea. And I like the mention of the Testa oil cooler. A lot. But the mounts kill it in theory, for me.

alternatively you can just have someone competent weld new tabs on the other side so  you can mount it to the head?

I actually prefer the look without one.  [cheeky]

Nice work Charles.  [thumbsup]

Thanks everyone for the responses and input. Many of the ideas brought up are ones I have talked about with others before starting this mod. I at least wanted a proof of concept finished and on the bike and I am happy with the way it came out although, I will probably fab a cleaner mounting system when time permits.

jerk, do it now so we can pregnant dog and complain about it! 







 [evil]

That's a tasty 1098 front fender ya got there!

Well of course, but the larger displacement air cooled motors kinda need one. For me, that's just the bet looking option...

Can you turn the valve cover around 180 degrees?  This would put the mounts at the back and may give you the space needed.

I never really thought about it this way. There may be clearance isses with the obtruding bit of the valve cover but I will have to check to be sure.

valve cover is not square, it only fits on the head one way.

but you can swap intake valve cover for exhaust valve cover Like I did.

ok, maybe not on the DS motor. What is that going into the intake valve cover? Ive always wondered.

Oil temp sensor, it is on all the FI 2 valve bikes.

Looked into this initially. You can swap them assuming the lead to the sensor is long enough. The problem that comes up is that with the protruding bracket on the cover, the oil cooler is way too close to the front wheel.

I also looked at spinning the cover 180 but the intake port is in the way. Looks like the only option is to figure a way to hang the cooler from frame. I have already started thinking about it but it will be a few weeks before I can attempted something.

I've got a custom bracket you can have.

Oil temp sensor on my DS is attached to the Oil Drain plug...

i believe it is the TDC sensor, but don't hold me to that.  oil temp is in the oil strainer plug.

Maybe cylinder head temp then.  It is def. some sort of temp sensor, I had always just figured oil temp.  If you take it out it looks just like a automotive coolant temp sensor.  Is one poss. for the guage and for the engine computer?

I believe they have 2 oil temp sensors, one on the filter screen that goes to the inst cluster and another that goes to the ECU to adjust fueling or something like that. I know there is an oil sensor and an air temp sensor that feed directly to the ecu and the ecu uses these numbers to calculate the temp differential.

After some rethinking, I fabbed some new brackets for the oil cooler. I give you version 2. It came out much cleaner this time but I still need to source a Mulitstrada valve cover to finish the job.

(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e297/pennyrobber/oilcooler/DSC03470.jpg)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e297/pennyrobber/oilcooler/DSC03471.jpg)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e297/pennyrobber/oilcooler/DSC03472.jpg)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e297/pennyrobber/oilcooler/DSC03473.jpg)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e297/pennyrobber/oilcooler/DSC03475.jpg)

Much cleaner, nice job!  [thumbsup]

that looks awesome!
 [bow_down]

Oil temp sensor on the DS motor is on the oil cooler...at least it is on the Multi and Hyper motors. I don't have any sensors on the drain plug.

PM sent.  [thumbsup]

Looks better than version 1.0.  Very nice!!  [thumbsup]

Must just be on the Multi and Hyper. Mine is in the same location as the one on my 800...

Not the drain plug, the oil intake strainer plug on the side.  I can see it in the pics above.

Yup, that's what I meant...

Is that the plug to the left and above the oil fill cap, right next to the clutch cover? I have no idea what that is. All I know is that the temp sensor is on the oil cooler...maybe there are 2 temp sensors??

I'll have a look at my shop manual when I get home.

You know where the oil screen is right? It's on the cover for that screen on my S2R1000....

Weird...my DS1000 motor doesn't have anything near the oil screen.

Just looked at my Multi workshop manual...on the Multi (and Hyper since that's the oil cooler I have) the sensor to the left of the oil fill plug measures oil pressure. Oil temp. is measured at the oil cooler like I thought. There aren't any other oil temp. measurement points.

MTS 1100 has it on the bottom of the cooler
Monster DS has it on the oil intake screen plug.  You are looking in the wrong place either way, that oil pressure bung is on the cover.  The temp thermistor is on the case, bottom-right.

you guys with your newer monsters and all your fancy 'lectrics. pfffff.

i revisited this post -- it's not an issue, check out the MTS 1100's parts manual, page 80.  The MTS's oil cooler's intake/outlet are on the bottom.

The flow of oil is vigorous enough that it pushes the air out.  the oil cooler is a serpentine inside, not just an empty box.  all the air gets pushed right thru, no issues.

you can flip it right over if you like.  the air will not stay in the cooler when oil is flowing thru at high pressure.

+1, this is how heat exhangers (oil coolers and the like) are designed. Its a back and forth 'maze' pattern.

I might be using an oil cooler from an airplane. They are a little different in design. Hopefully I can find one small enough. Maybe a hydraulic fluid cooler.

i've got about half a dozen coolers lying around trying to make one fit on my '95 900SP.  I want to move the cooler under the front cover, F1 style.  the biggest problem i've found is finding one off the shelf that's the right dims with something to mount off. 

Bob Miller used to make a kit, but he's long gone from the biz..  :'(

under what front cover? front valve cover or front fairing?

DT mounted his up under the front fairing, I think it looks really good - would be great on a fully faired bike.

(http://www.desmotimes.com/Images/900SS/900ss.jpg)

(http://www.desmotimes.com/Images/900SS/900ss-9.jpg)

(http://www.desmotimes.com/Images/900SS/900ss-10.jpg)

under the headlight, inside 

What type and size are you looking for? My Multistrada one is just sitting around gathering dust...it used to be mounted up front under the headlight, so it has mounting tabs.

narrow and thick..  needs to be the same volume but narrower than stock, about 6" max

there are a few brands out there, i just gotta find them.  got pics?

I can take some pics and measurements tonight if you'd like. I think it's basically the same size as all of the newer oil coolers though...probably too wide, but I'll double check.

Question: Are you planning on mounting it to frame/steering stem or to the triple? I think mounting it to triple/forks would be problematic, with the lines constantly moving about (and getting extremely hot, potentially).

mounting it to the subframe that connects to the steering stem.  right under the headlight, hoses will run underneath and hang a little.  i've seen it done and it works well without impeding steering any.  the side covers hid the hoses.

I have a friend with a 96 900 SS/SP (full fairing) that is running an oil cooler in that position (same cooler as stock) along with the stock cooler.  With both coolers here in the desert keep his oil temps in tune during the hot summers.  He just has a cover to restrict the one behind the headlight during the winter months.  A local Duc independent mechanic plumbed the lines and I remember correctly they are plumbed sequentially.  I will have to ask about it.

please do, although i don't want two coolers!.. sounds like he might have just used a small valve spring type..  they are narrow and thin, prob no more than 0.2 L capacity... i've seen one that is about the same width but is thicker with 0.6L capacity, which is about the same size as the factory one.   

I've seen this, and I like the idea a lot. Here's the one I've seen, sequential oil coolers:

(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4iYlZ1m8UEM/SszIsgmw3KI/AAAAAAAAEIc/rs_HTmMQq2Q/s800/motornov06002.jpg)
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4iYlZ1m8UEM/SszIs1cKp6I/AAAAAAAAEIg/KOnGbbqPuQ4/s800/motornov06003.jpg)

it's a fine idea if you need it, but i don't..  my single cooler works great for my situation.  i just want to keep it equal -- but move it out of the way, sight-wise.

No, it would be unnecessary in many/most situations. I believe that if you were running big bore, high compression, torque cams and/or advanced ignition on a fully-faired bike, then you'd have some heat issues, especially if you live down south. Seems like it would be overkill on anything less, when it would be just as cheap to simply get a slightly oversized oil cooler to replace the single existing cooler on many models that have been modded.

if you are overheating while moving at speed, i would say yes.. but if it is just in traffic, then put a couple small fans on the cooler.. works very well.

Here ya go. 9-3/4" wide, 4-7/8" tall, 1-3/8" deep

(http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n258/JJGeo/IMG_0731.jpg)

yeah, too big.  needs to be about 8 x 3.. and can be up to 3" deep. 

thanks though!

Hey JJJ, you got the lines that go with it?

yep...you need one?

I just might need one.

PM me if interested...I don't have any need for it anymore.

Finally the finished product. Oil cooler on, cleaner brackets, multistrada valve cover.
Thanks again to Triple J and Pompetta for the doner parts.  [beer]

(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e297/pennyrobber/oilcooler/DSC03557.jpg)

(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e297/pennyrobber/oilcooler/DSC03559.jpg)

(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e297/pennyrobber/oilcooler/DSC03558.jpg)

Nice Job! I like that fact that it is not mounted to the valve cover.  For some reason, I like the engine separate from the engine.

 ???  ???  ???

Looks great!  [thumbsup]  I know I'm a bit late to the thread, but I've got a kinda similar location for mine and I like it a bunch. 

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/2832242616_ce7e8154c9_o.jpg)

Now you need to get a longer line so it doesnt go in-front of the belt (rather behind)..
I think I read somewhere that a stock oil line offa Hypermotard will do the trick...

Sorry I guess that didn't make much sense now did it? 

What I meant to say is:
"I like the oil cooler mounted separate from the engine..."

Does that sound better?  ;)

or just have one made.. I believe they are AN6 hoses.  you could route it any way you like, no need to stick with what came from the factory on another bike..

+1 assembling oil SS oil lines and fittings is pretty easy -- just remember to measure at least twice before cutting the lines. 

I got everything for custom lines on both my bikes from Summitracing.com

What's the fitting used on the engine case? (and presumably on the oil cooler itself) I'm going to (finally) do this in the winter

I think I posted the parts list here somewhere, but it might have been TOB.

Anyhow, here's what I got from Summit Racing:

Part #             Item                                Price          Qty    Line Total
AER-FCA0603    -6 AN HOSE 3 FT LENGTH                $16.95    1    $16.95
RUS-610023    -6AN BLACK STRAIGHT SWIVEL         $9.95            1      $9.95
RUS-613093    -6AN BLACK 45 DEG SWIVEL         $21.95    3    $65.85
RUS-670521    END METRIC ADAPT #6 X14MM 1.5   $10.39    4    $41.56

The adapters are -6AN M14 with a thread pitch of 1.5. 

You'll also need crush washers for the adapters.  I just picked up the OEM washers from my local dealer.  If you're routing hose under the head to the other side of the bike, you might want to order more than 3 feet of hose.

And measure at least twice!!   ;)

Question.....

Which one gets the straight fitting? Post pics, please, lest i stalk your pic account.

Answered my own question by looking in the garage. ha.

LOL, sorry I was away for a bit.   ;)   ;D

that is not allowed.

I can do prefabbed SS lines as well. Just send me the exact length of the lines.  We use Aeroquip products all the good stuff and a bit less than Summit.

             Item                                               Price        
-6 AN HOSE 3 FT LENGTH              $5.15   x3    $15.45
   -6AN BLACK STRAIGHT SWIVEL    $5.65          $5.65  
   -6AN BLACK 45 DEG SWIVEL        $13.45  x3   $40.35
 END METRIC ADAPT #6 X14MM 1.5   $9.25  x4   $37.00

These are what the fittings look like.....Not the typical red and blue
(http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/4638/mf2c.jpg)

I was looking at that. Explain the advantages/disadvantages of the SS, the SS/Teflon, and the lightweight lines for external oil lines, if you've a second.

teflon lines have 3 advantages i know of -- first the outside is slippery so it doesn't bind like rubber.  rubber lines will rub away but teflon will slide.  second, teflon has a wide temp range of flexibility -- very hot and very cold -- so it won't stiffen up in cold like rubber will or get super flexible when hot -- and rubber swells over time too.  and third, it doesn't degrade.  rubber hose absorbs moisture and "breathes" whereas teflon rejects moisture.

the stainless sheath is simply a protector for the teflon hose inside.

afaik all of the stainless sheathed hose on the ducati bikes are teflon hose inside -- can someone confirm that?

prolly gonna drop you a line, got an email?

You can look at it online at BallerBolts.com

The disadvantage of teflon line however is the fact that it cannot bend in as tight of a radius and will kink easier.  Teflon has many advantages over rubber, but for oil lines regular rubber braided hose works well.  I have had them on some of my cars for years and my personal bike for a year now.  If you are running high pressure and high temp teflon is the best for that application and is also what is used on brake lines and power steering.  The oil temps and pressures on a bike do not require teflon.  We do offer teflon lines and fittings as well by the way if you do want to go that route.

I wanna make stainless hardlines for mine.  For the sake of being different.

The problem is as soon as I do it Ill want to move the position of it.

Stainless hardlines would look real clean.  What diameter would they have to be?

Id use something around 12mm or 1/2".  Match the line size up to the ID of the fittings.