125-200cc WB165 radiator swap

Just wanted to show a couple pics of the radiator swap I just performed. The main reason I wanted to do this was because of the lower radiator port on the right side was touching my exhaust. PAHusky had suggested wrapping extra rubber around the area where it touched. I did this when the Gnarly was installed and it made me feel better. When I installed the Fatty from Walt it was actually pushing on the hose a bit. I tweeked the mounts a bit which helped but I was still paranoid. I read some threads about swapping radiators so I started poking around Ebay. I wanted to perform the mod before this weekends race (OXBO = all rock). I came across a really nice set from a '04 CR125. They looked like they would mount up and the ports were both on the inside. I won the auction for 66 bucks. Not bad seeing the seller was including both radiators, hoses, clamps, guards, etc. I mounted them up yesterday and I am curious as to why Husky stopped using this setup? I was originally going to just replace one radiator but since I also had the hoses I figured no splicing would be needed if I replaced both. The hoses are tucked in so much nicer (top and bottom) and seem to be way more out of harms way. Plus the crappy plastic 'T' was eliminated. IMOH I cant figure out why this setup was ditched in favor of the current setup. If anyone can see a downside let me know! The only thing I realized, after switching it all out of course, is that my CV4 radiator cap didnt fit. I tried one I had sitting around from a YZ250 and it fit perfect so I ordered a CV4 for a jap bike.

Looks good and it sounds like you got a good deal. I had my stock radiators modified similarly. My bottom hose rests on the power valve portion of the head so I covered it with a length of garden hose. It looks like you might have more room though.

Yeah I was really surprised how everything fit together but I guess I shouldnt be. There is only a five year difference between the '04 and my '09. Silly question but which way does the coolant flow on these? I am assuming it flow out the top of the head and into the top of the radiators??

I made that swap last spring and love that I never worry about that hose anymore.

Those CR125 radiators are the same rads on the 125 AND 250 2smokes from 2001 till 2004 at least maybe even to 2008.

Do you have to change your late model rad shrouds or do they bolt up.

BTW, I bought the motor off that 125...it shows no wear and it looks like a brand new Pro-x rod was just swapped in.

That bike was clean!

All my parts bolt right up. Even the radiator guards. It seems like everything is identical besides port location and radiator cap. I figured that if the radiators were in this good a condition that the rest of the bike had to be low hour. Did you get a good deal on the motor? Maybe Husky was trying to save weight or money by switching to a different setup. Who knows. I love there bike regardless but would be nice to have some the the things Motosportz mentioned. R_Little, are you doing OXBO on Sunday? Im going to do my first ride on a trials tire for this one.

Husky moved the spigots out so they could use the same rads for 2T and 4T. Saving money.

That would explain why I can switch my guards from one bike to the other.

I had that same problem with my SX 200 FATTY Pipe hitting the rad.hose and what I did was took the pipe off and put a bat handle into the spiget and tweeked it out and now there is a small gap and I still run a heater hose over the rad hose and if I should fall on that side,it will probably be touching again,better not fall I guess.

My 2011 has the spigots inside

No OXBO for me...it's my daughters college graduation on Sat.

I am doing Rige Run next sunday though.

We should ride together some time.

That is exactly correct!

The old bikes were very durable and the motors seem faster with only a drop in man jet needed...what is up with that?

The new bike handles fantastic though!

so will this be an issue for all WB165 + FMF kit setups? i'll have my pipe soon so i don't have a clear picture yet. can we dent the inside of the pipe a bit to clear the hose more? or is a new rad the way to go?

thanks for the pics!

OK, got it thanks, Kelly.

I think there could be slight variations between each setup once its put together. I think the best option is to find at least the right side radiator but if not there are other options as some have posted here. DaveG321 tweeked his pipe a bit and has some clearance now. I had originally tweeked the mounting tabs to gain some additional clearance. If you do the latter make sure you safety wire a piece of heater hose or equivalent over the area where it comes close to the pipe. That way if the hose ends up pushed into the pipe after a crash or something it can hold up until its fixed. Another option is the new replacement radiators we all see on ebay. Some seem to be made quite well and made in the USA to boot. I was going to go that route until I found mine. I would definitely contact the seller first and make sure the spigots are where you want them. They usually just put a generic picture on the ad. Im sure they could make them however you wanted them. Some have also sent there current radiators out to be modified. There are lots of options. Like I said this isnt completely necessary but Im just a worry wart. Personally if money wasnt an issue I would replace the radiators and buy the proper hoses. The setup is way superior IMO. But for me money is an issue......hence the Ebay score!

I recently joined the Ridge Riders so I will be at the Ridge Run helping out. I drive a dark grey 05 Tundra four door. Not sure if I will have the WB or TXC. We should definitely ride sometime. Any good places in Bergen County?

You can also have Myler's modify your stock radiators by swapping the bottom tanks between the two and getting the older style bottom hose.

If you run the stock radiators keep an eye on the spigots and hose connections after crashes/drops. I had a crash on the left side that tore the hose losing all of my coolant during an enduro. Thankfully it happened near the end and I finished without issue. I also had a fall on the right side during a hare scramble where the pipe collapsed the spigot enough to lose coolant. That one cost me a top end and a DNF.

As far as the older wr125,s,your,e write,my 02 WR125 was leaps and bounds faster and ran cleaner than my 09 WR125 .It would lug and then it would climb thru the powerband and rev til tomoro and then some but the handling was not even close to the 09.

What year is your bike? I know Husky switched radiator manufactures for a couple years. The ones they switched to were allegedly poor quality. I want to say '06 - '08 but Im not sure.