I'm redesigning my on-board shower and I'd like to hear how some you have routed the water hoses to the heat exchanger. Right now I've got a homemade copper tube heat exchanger similar to the R&M style. It is placed next to the engine underneath the battery tray. The hot water supply comes from the hot water return from the stock heater. The R&M shower is designed to work this way, by replacing the stock copper pipe that runs just above the spark plugs.
Mine works fine as long as I've got the engine rpms up high enough to get good return flow through the exchanger. The problem I'd like to correct is that when the rpms drop to idle, I don't get much heat at all.
I'm considering rerouting the hoses so that the water from the engine goes directly to the exchanger before continuing on to the stock heater. I'm hoping that will prevent heat loss through the heating system before it reaches the exchanger. I've also thought about tapping into the water supply to the radiator or the thermostat bypass hose.
Has anyone done this? Did it make a difference? Or do I just need to keep the engine revved up and not worry about it.
Or are you all just a bunch of dirty SOBs who don't clean up after a trail ride? :flipoff2:
-ckp

Originally posted by Shipwreck

Or are you all just a bunch of dirty SOBs who don't clean up after a trail ride? :flipoff2:
-ckp

well..if the temp is ok...im usually good for a swim. but as for a shower...ugh...lol! i know jimmy miller has a 2f w/ a shower.....right???

I'll just use the shower in the motorhome:p

i routed mine inline with that little often forgotten hose that goes from the head to the water pump, you know the one, it sems to be warm enough at idle, assuming the engine is warmed up of course.

Thanks Rhino
Yeah that's the bypass hose. It allows water to circulate even before the thermostat opens. I may give it a try, but I've got my York mounted there so routing the hose is going to be a bitch. :mad:

I've always installed mine in the heater line running to the heater.... plenty of heat for me & its adjustable by the heater controls & rpm's.

i have a confession, the way i described having mine was the "old" way it was. it had plenty of heat at idle and i was happy with it. the way i have it now is on the side of the engine replaceing the stock metal heater tube, mounted to the head above the HEI running alongside. it works well, plenty warm still, but not as much so as before. when i did my york last year i went ahead and moved it cause it was easier to plumb in.

Oh, now you tell me...
I'm going to give it a try anyway. If I can get the bends tight enough I think I have enough room to run the heater hoses from the bypass, under the York and to the exchanger. If not I'll run it like sixty did. But I think I'll get better flow from the bypass rather than the outlet to the heater at the back of the block. Thanks guys.