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Oil temp gauges for the GSes

J

jknappsax

Forum Mentor
Past Site Supporter
I recall a thread here where Renobruce sent a link:

http://www.getgeared.co.uk/acatalog/moto-detail_Motorcycle_Oil_Temperature_Gauge.html

to a Harley-type oil filler cap replacement oil temp gauge. They list one for the GS 850, and I was wondering what the final consensus was; do you guys think they would work with the 1976-1979 GSes? Did we ever come up with an American source for these? Or was a better alternative brought up? I am concerned that the temp probe on these wouldn't fit into the crankcase enough due to lack of clearance below the fill cap. I also found, in looking for alternatives, a gauge to 1/8" NPT:

www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?cls=ROAD&pcode=SMITT3005-8N

and was wondering if a temp gauge could be teed off from Renobruce's adapter to measure both oil temp and pressure. What do you guys think?
 
I'm not sure the oil gallery would be a good place to measure temperature. Plus there doesn't seem to be any "direct mount" oil temp gauges available, so you would have to install a temp sensor and run the sensor wires to the gauge. It might not look very good coming form the side of the motor.
My adapter will, however, fit into the oil drain plug, which would be a good place to measure temperature. I am working on a kit that will replace the oil drain plug with the adapter/temp sensor, then run the wire conspicuously up to the headlight bucket, then to a gauge mounted on the bars, frame, or next to the speedo/tach. I have all the parts together except for a nice gauge cup and some sort of mounting hardware. I'll keep you posted. I should have it all together soon.

Has anyone bought one of those gauges from Germany? I was thinking about getting one for my 1150 and comparing it's reading with the stock temp gauge.
 
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oil temp gauge

oil temp gauge

If you make it, I will buy! ("If you make it, they will come"). Just let me know. Thanks.
 
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Mounted to the top headlight bucket bolt. You can also mount to the handlebars with a bar bracket.
 
Looks good to me. I guess you could also mount it anywhere lower down on the frame if you wanted.

Anywhere there's a space :)


How you going to wire it? Up the front of the engine & piggyback the tacho cable or up the side & under the tanK & follow the loom??

Dan :)
 
Install looks well done Renobruce. :) Not sure what good it is going to do though (sorry, don't mean to sound critical). Typically, idiot lights and gauges are there to tell the rider important information which may effect his decision making. For example, on a water cooled bike/car if the temp increases you know there is a coolant leak somewhere. On our GS bikes, which are air cooled, knowing the temp of the oil is sort of a novelty but is not actionable unless you want to park the bike for several hours in the middle of a ride and wait for the air temp to decrease. I think the gauge is a neat idea to help you decide whether or not you need an oil cooler, once you make that decision though, it doesn't do you much good.
 
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Nessism said:
Install looks well done Renobruce. :) Not sure what good it is going to do though (sorry, don't mean to sound critical). Typically, idiot lights and gauges are there to tell the rider important information which may effect his decision making. For example, on a water cooled bike/car if the temp increases you know there is a coolant leak somewhere. On our GS bikes, which are air cooled, knowing the temp of the oil is sort of a novelty but is not actionable unless you want to park the bike for several hours in the middle of a ride and wait for the air temp to decrease. I think the gauge is a neat idea to help you decide whether or not you need an oil cooler, once you make that decision though, it doesn't do you much good.
Click to expand...

It is a bit of a novelty, but would be a handy tool for those in hot climates and for modified bikes which can run much hotter. Or for drag bikes. It might also save someone who is running lean from burning a hole in their piston.
 
Not that I'd ever use it, but your work looks great!:-D

Brad bt
 
salty_monk said:
Looks good to me. I guess you could also mount it anywhere lower down on the frame if you wanted.

Anywhere there's a space :)


How you going to wire it? Up the front of the engine & piggyback the tacho cable or up the side & under the tanK & follow the loom??

Dan :)
Click to expand...

The sensor wire will come up from the back of the engine and up with wires going to the headlight bucket. Hots and grounds will be hooked up inside the bucket. This gauge also has illumination.
 
I'll Take Two!

I'll Take Two!

Bruce, my good buddy...you did it again!

First your oil pressure gage kits, now this.

Novelty or not, I have always wanted a funtional oil temp setup to see if my oil cooler is working. Put me down for two. I'll hafta fab a different mount for my GS1000 because of the fairing.

One question. How does the pan fitting hold up with the crush gasket? This might be a critical setback if it leaks.
 
Tom MLC said:
I'll hafta fab a different mount for my GS1000 because of the fairing.
Click to expand...

I found a gauge cup that will offer more flexibility in the way you want to mount the gauge. It should allow you to mount it pretty much anywhere you want.

Tom MLC said:
One question. How does the pan fitting hold up with the crush gasket? This might be a critical setback if it leaks.
Click to expand...

I'll let you know. I'll probably end up sourcing a different gasket for the adapter. There won't be any leaks! [-X
 
Well she's all hooked up and working good! \\:D/ I took it for about a 30 min ride, and the temp got up to about 180 (which is about normal compared to my 1150). It appears to be accurate... VDO is good stuff. So far no leaks at the adapter/sender. The rubber gasket has a little lip on the pan which it can ride in which allows you to tighten it up well. It would shake a little when I hit a bump, so I put a small dense foam rubber cushion between the gauge and the top of my speedo/tach. It's now steady and does not vibrate or shake. I'm happy! \\:D/
It's illuminated, and you can choose red, green, or white lighting. I went with the red to match the other lights and it looks good at night, too!


 
looks good bruce, in your searching were you abe to find a small inconspicuous digital gauge, something smaller then cberkley's?

i would like to run temp gauge but want some thing real small and hidden.
 
first timer said:
looks good bruce, in your searching were you abe to find a small inconspicuous digital gauge, something smaller then cberkley's?

i would like to run temp gauge but want some thing real small and hidden.
Click to expand...

Denis Kirk has this one:

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/produ...7Q57U0TMO&catId=4&leafCatId=41409&skuId=40756

I've seen similar ones also. I was after a "period correct" gauge, so I went with the one you see. There are numerous variations out there, but for an analog gauge, this is the smallest diameter I've seen.
 
thanks, that looks pretty good, a little pricey but will have to add that to my x mas list. any idea what the size is, they seem to not list it.
 
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