Chuck's
Radiator Door Mod
I was told when
preparing the bike for the Isle of Grits that in the cool weather
it would be a good idea to tape part of the radiator over. I hate
removing Duck Tape from areas it has been hot so decided to see
if I could make something that would cover part of the radiator
and be adjustable while riding.
It took most
of a week to get it right due to clearances, and difficulty designing
and making a system that would allow me to adjust it while riding.
The flap is 1/32nd aluminum that has a shape to clear forks etc.
This took many experiments to get right. The flap is mounted to
an aluminum hinge which is all then held in place by the bolt in
the center top of the radiator.

I
made and mounted an arm on the side of the flap and ran a 1/4
inch aluminum rod to that and up past the inside of the fake right
ram air tube. After making four brackets to secure the tube and
allow adjustment finally got it right and bolted it to the inside
of the ram air tube. The mounting position of this little bracket
is critical. Then I cut sections of surgical tubing and installed
on the tube. This allows the securing bracket to hold the flap
in place between the two fingers of the securing bracket with
the door in any position. Then made an arm and using epoxy to
hold a bolt and installed it to the top of the tube to allow easy
grasp with gloves.

I
have a faster warm up, control of temperature up to the thermostat
setting and don't need duck tape. I have found that the radiator
is so big for this engine I can almost always just leave the flap
closed unless I'm pushing the bike really hard.
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