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mxmatt,Bashan,JR,Guitarman,cyborg

I have a Lance Duke Touring 250 (244), with the same Honda Helix drive train. I responded to this thread as billg, but had to re apply as my old password no longer works.

I have an infra red thermometer and know how this works. Unlike the Helix, these Chinese scoots do not have the radiator capacity of the Helix. I went through a head gasket finding that out. I went so far as to dis- assemble my radiator to rod it out. That, or any circulation problem, was not the problem. These Chinese Helix clones will get up and do 70 on the freeway, but as soon as the oil heats up, the radiator is too small to keep up and you will kill the head gasket if you do it enough. Look up a product called K&S Fiberlock, available at WalMart. It will preserve your head gasket until you can solve your radiator capacity problem.

The solution is either more radiator capacity or an oil cooler, preferably more radiator capacity. Some have solved the problem with an additional radiator installed at the front of the frame, just behind the front wheel. That creates an additional problem of too much cooling capacity which they say effects gas mileage.

My first attempt will be installation of an additional fan in front of the radiator to increase air through the radiator at high temps. It will be wired through a toggle switch as well as through the existing thermostat so I can choose when it runs, as these electrical systems are minimal at best. Dumping the electrical carb enricher helps. It will require moving the radiator back toward the engine a few inches to make room for the additional fan, with all the pain that entails, but better than the pain of the piping to a whole 'nother' radiator. If that doesn't work, it'll be an oil cooler which will probably require an additional fan anyway.