I found this in a post on AdvRider:

The thermostat/radiator arrangement isn't like a typical automotive system where the thermostat basically just blocks flow until it heats up. On the F650, the head of the thermostat reroutes flow through the tubes as it opens.

Very interesting, I didn't know such systems existed.

 

Very interesting, I didn't know such systems existed.

I found this in a post on AdvRider:


Very interesting, I didn't know such systems existed.

Thanks for the note! I looked at the thread on AdvRider and see where he removed his thermostat prior to a trip and continued to have problems. The answer also included:

"When you left the thermostat out, you caused a big problem. Without any thermostat in there, you create a path allowing all the coolant to flow directly from the input pipe to the output pipe with little or none routing through the radiator.
The thermostat/radiator arrangement isn't like a typical automotive system where the thermostat basically just blocks flow until it heats up. On the F650, the head of the thermostat reroutes flow through the tubes as it opens."

That kind of shows me that unless this eBay radiator has some kind of "advanced" coolant routing that supplants the thermostat which is supposed to do that job then I'll likely run into problems down the road.

This bike has been rock solid and reliable up until my accident so I'm not inclined to experiment with something as important as cooling on the word of an eBay reseller of a Chinese knockoff unless some other known expert chimes in and says it's perfectly OK they way they do it.

I'm not holding my breath.

Thanks!

JoeL

 

See if Beemer Boneyard has one. They have good stuff including used parts, and great service.

 

I was looking on Amazon for a radiator for my SV1000S Suzuki.
The cheaper ones were made in China. A more expensive one is made in the US. I put it on my wish list, as the original radiator is working okay.
After reading this thread I will study the thermostat.

 

See if Beemer Boneyard has one. They have good stuff including used parts, and great service.

See if Beemer Boneyard has one. They have good stuff including used parts, and great service.

I ended up finding a used one for $100 that fits perfectly and is the correct part. I just put it in and I'm back in business. I saw a number of used ones on eBay, including some in the UK that will ship to the US so they're out there. I'm sure everyone knows how to shop eBay, but I look for a lot of sales (over 1000 if possible) a positive rating of over 98%, and free returns. Of course for something like a radiator, you're going to have to pay the return post if it's not a fit or some other problem, but compared to a new part over $700 it's worth the trouble.

BTW, the seller of that Chinese radiator did do a return immediately without any pushback and he has so far not asked for me to ship back his radiator which I don't understand. He's domestic, charging a bit more than the Chinese-from-China radiators, but obviously the same part, so I don't see why he wouldn't want it back unless it's some kind of drop-ship arrangement and returns aren't an option without a lot of trouble on his end.

And honestly, I don't know that radiator wouldn't have worked. It's a decent-looking bit of kit, but the lack of a thermostat was just a bridge too far and this isn't a scooter, it's a BMW and for what these go for, I just don't want to take a chance.

JoeL

 

BTW, the seller of that Chinese radiator did do a return immediately without any pushback and he has so far not asked for me to ship back his radiator which I don't understand.

I bought a complete right-side muffler for my '83 Goldwing off eBay. It had a problem. The seller did not want it back. I also bought a "cluster" for the left-hand grip (horn, directionals, etc) that didn't solve my problem. The seller did not want that item back either. Sometimes Amazon won't request items be returned that are faulty. Based on my experience, it's not that uncommon.

 

Glad you found the right part.

 

The OEM one looks like a silly design IMO, overly complicated with a tendancy to overheat when it fails. Less moving parts in the cooling system is better.

I would have been tempted to cut open the ebay one and braze in a wall seperating the input from the output.