1986 kx500 radiator interchange

[byron909]

hello, i am currently restoring a '86 kx500, am in need of new radiators. my right side is like half covered in jb weld, the left is twisted up real bad. i have found a zillion good used 88 up radiators, was wondering how different they were to mine? just lookng at pictures it does appear they are different, but no too much??
thanks for any help

[byron909]

maybe someone could measure their radiators? 88-04?

thanks

[nd4speed]

I think I have a set off an 86. I could measure those.

[byron909]

thanks, but no need to measure, i have those already. was looking at 88 up. are yours good? would you sell them?

[cbmoor]

Not sure on the 88 years onwards if they are the same but there is a guy on e-Bay on the uk site selling bigger capacity radiators for the kx500. I got a set for my Kx and they were good. I wonder if you got a set you could reposition the brackets if needed to fit your bike.

[nd4speed]

Yeah I would sell them to you if they fit your bike. I'm not sure they are for 1986 KX500. So if you dont have any luck let me know if you want a price and then to measure.

[sandblaster]

Not sure on the 88 years onwards if they are the same but there is a guy on e-Bay on the uk site selling bigger capacity radiators for the kx500. I got a set for my Kx and they were good. I wonder if you got a set you could reposition the brackets if needed to fit your bike.

I purchased some of those bigger radiators from China for my 00 K5.
The holes didn't line up and were the wrong sizes.
I sent some specs back to them and they refunded me part of the cost.
I like the end product but getting there was a bit rough 

[cbmoor]

Yes i must admit mine needed slight adjustment to the middle holes. They were too small but I just drilled them out a little bit more and then they fitted good. But I think that can be common on non oem items that the fit will not be as good as the originals

[kwakman]

I think the brackets on the 86 do differ from the  later models.will look into it and post.

[HodaddyB]

I recently posted concerning '87 substitutes, and there appears to be a difference between '87+ and '86 in the mount locations........according to the info provided by jonny

http://www.kxriders.com/forums/index.php/topic,7784.msg59915.html#msg59915

[kwakman]

if you look at the above pic, the 86 shares 3/4 mounts, but the centre mounts which are to rearward in the middle of the rad 87 onwards, on the 86 this mount is forwards.all other mounts look like they fit. HTH.K.