"Oil coolers"

[hdpromos]

If you plan on attending any Florida Region races, all oil coolers must be in an area that would dump into the belly pan if there is a failure. This, do to last weekend's "disaster" at Moroso when an oil cooler bracket mounted under the seat failed and knocked down 12 riders! We will not be allowing that kind of mounting and placing of coolers from now on. Tech inspection will determine what is allowable. I suggest this be done nationwide. Luckily nobody was hurt. It failed at the slowest corner of the track but if it had failed just about anywhere else, it could have been much worse! We all know that belly pans are not always going to catch every failure, but with them we'll get most of them.

HD

[PJ]

Does this apply to OE oil coolers? Or only aftermarket?

[hdpromos]

Tech will determine what is allowable but the one that caused our problem was after market and fabricated by the rider. Any that are determined to be unsafe by tech, will not be allowed.

HD

[hooter31]

GOOD MOVE HENRY...I'VE ALWAYS FELT THEY WERE DANGEROUS UNDER THE TAIL.ALMOST EVERYTIME A BIKE WRECKS THE TAIL GETS DESTROYED.

[ninelives59]

good move!If I was there I would have been one of the 12 riders who had crashed.from what Scuba had told me the IDIOT on the bike thought it was kinda funny how many people he took out. >:(  

[GAMEDIC]

just a question here.. are you saying that is "tech" says an OEM mounted cooloer is unsafe we must move it from OEM placement?

[cstem]

How many bikes do you know of that race in CCS that have an oil cooler under the seat as OEM? I can think of none.

[GAMEDIC]

How many bikes do you know of that race in CCS that have an oil cooler under the seat as OEM? I can think of none.

me either..i'm just saying..he says tech will say what is ok...so what if mine is mounted .."anywhere" and they say it's not ok.. if it's OEM should i have to move it? .. just a general question

[CCSRacer114]

Thanks Henry and a good call.  I was watching this race from the turn 9 area through my binoculars. Not a pretty sight to see that series of crashes.

[Knedragon]

Put everyone on 2-Strokes,end of Problem :o

 Steve W.
 C.C.S. #27

[mmills416]

Chris didn't think it was funny at all.  He was relieved that no one was hurt.  He was only happy that I didn't get mixed up in it.  I was pissed at him and one of my best friends did get got up in the oil.  Racing can get very emotional and Chris and I have been friends off the track for a long time and in this case I let my emotions get the best of me at Chris' expense.  This is dangerous enough so if you make something unique for your bike just think of all of us out there with you.
  

[Zac]

Would this apply to oil TANKS on dry sump bikes as well, really no different than an oil cooler (lines going in and out, holds oil).  How many bikes have an oil tank under the tail (all MZs, Yamaha SZRs) or another non-bellypan-contained location (Buell Firebolts in the swingarm, motard bikes in the frame).  Even air cooled Ducatis with the "protected" oil cooler mounting (up under the steering head instead of down low) would be suspect, because a pan wouldn't catch much oil that was coming from up under the steering head.

Where is the line drawn?  A properly mounted oil cooler with properly attached lines should not fail.  What SHOULD be done is all hose clamps shall be safety wired, and all threaded fittings (AN fitting) shall be safety wired.  Yes, it's easier for a tech inspector to just look and check the box that the oil cooler is mounted within the belly pan, but really the tech inspector should verifiy that the oil cooler (no matter where it is mounted) is mounted and connected in a proper manner.

-z.