My rmk 800 (2002) has been overheating running on frozen crust or roads this spring. I am getting ice scratchers to take care of the hifax heating and to get some snow on the heat exchangers, but I'm looking for more cooling. This sled is used to pull skiers in the back country and it works hard. Has anyone tried any of the aftermarket radiators that go in the nose of the sled? They are not cheap and I was hoping for some favorable opinions before getting one. Thanks

Ice scratchers will help. Remove the thermostat. If you still want a radiator then buy one that someone took off an '05/'06 900/700/600RMK. My buddy has one, bet he'll gladly get rid of it.

I put a Vanamberg cooler in the tail of my 03' 144" SKS with 2" paddle. It takes up the entire kick up and I also removed the thermostat. Yes scratchers are still required but the large cooler made it a new sled. My riding partner went the nose radiator route, it didn't do crap on the crusty stuff it still got hot and has to use scratchers as well just to keep it cool. The 800's don't like under hood heat so the nose radiator isn't the best choice imo.

Thanks Likinit2. I looked up Van Amburg enterprises and was impressed with the design of their heat exchanger. I have no doubt It would cure my overheating. The problem is I am more of a skier than a sledder and I have trouble justifing the $425 upgrade to my $2800 sled. This machine has to get me and a couple of buddies up to the high country in colorado to ski in the backcountry and do some pleasure riding occasionally ( as opposed to ski transpoeration). How does removing the t-stat help overheating? shouldn't it open at temp and let the sled warm up sooner or does it some how restrict coolant flow even when opening at the correct temp? Or, do the t-stats fail to open leading to overheating . Is there really any benefit in keeping the t-stat in? I would think It would be open almost all the time. Thanks again

T-stats do fail, and they do restrict the coolant flow especially when running marginal snow conditions like you ride in.

I put one in my 05 switchback from RPC. Worked but than I added scratchers and that did the trick. I have a 07 switchback now and added scratchers right from the start. Lowered the temp 30 deg. F. on some trails. Give the scratchers a try first.

Thanks for all the replies and information. I picked up a pair of scratchers a few days ago but haven't installed them yet. The instructions call for installing them on the post that the front idler wheel uses. Is there any negative of not having that idler wheel?

I used the hole for the front idler and drilled new holes ahead of that for the idler, just don't mount it any farther forward than you need to otherwise your front scissor will make contact when bottomed. Most likely you won't miss it as I ride in Michigan for the most part. I know what you mean with the vanamberg coolers, they are pricey.

Pricey they are,but they work.Chris told me that it would cool a 1200,and I believe it!

I got one of the nose cone radiators off hiperf.com a couple of years ago now. Believe me it makes a noticeable difference, the first time out with it was beginning of the season, drove about 8 miles to my destination and there was little to no snow, mostly ice. Didn't overheat once, without it i know i would have overheated a few times. I did have the ice scratchers first, they also work good, except I tow a sled every now and then, sure throws a lot of snow back there on the sled or anybody who decides to ride behind you.