Oil temp sensor

[rputney01]

I have a Lockhart oil cooler on my bike and have lost the oil temp sensing point. I'm wondering if I can put a sensor in-line with the oil line going to the cooler. I found the attached sensor on-line but it has no specs. Has anyone else tried this and what do you think the odds would be that this would accurately feed the stock oil temp gauge in my instrument cluster?

I appreciate your advice. Thanks.

[Nessism]

There is no way for us to know from a photo whether or not that particular sensor will have the same output range as the stock sensor. There are no published specs for the stock sensor for that matter so who knows. Why not use the stock sensor from your bike and adapt it to fit somehow into the oil cooler kit? Your chance for success whould be higher than trying to use some unknown sensor.

[renobruce]

That looks like a VDO sensor. I have one of those along with a VDO gauge. Mine is screwed into the oil pan via an adapter. Those sensors come in different ranges. It might work if you can get one that matches the range on the stock guage.

[renobruce]

There is no way for us to know from a photo whether or not that particular sensor will have the same output range as the stock sensor. There are no published specs for the stock sensor for that matter so who knows. Why not use the stock sensor from your bike and adapt it to fit somehow into the oil cooler kit? Your chance for success whould be higher than trying to use some unknown sensor.

That's a better idea. If you have the stock sensor, you can get an adapter to make it work.

[rputney01]

There is no way for us to know from a photo whether or not that particular sensor will have the same output range as the stock sensor. There are no published specs for the stock sensor for that matter so who knows. Why not use the stock sensor from your bike and adapt it to fit somehow into the oil cooler kit? Your chance for success whould be higher than trying to use some unknown sensor.

When I got the bike, the oil cooler conversion had already been done. I don't have the stock sensor and the part does not appear to be available at any of the OEM sites.

I have been watching E-bay, but I'm not sure what I would even be looking for. Just hoping for a quick solution. I'll continue to do some research.

Thanks.

[renobruce]

Post up in the parts wanted section. Someone may have one. There were several models with temp sensors. IIRC, the thread size is 10mm for the stock sensor. You can get an adapter to go from 10mm to 14mm and install the sensor where your oil pan drain bolt is.

[rputney01]

Post up in the parts wanted section. Someone may have one. There were several models with temp sensors. IIRC, the thread size is 10mm for the stock sensor. You can get an adapter to go from 10mm to 14mm and install the sensor where your oil pan drain bolt is.

Will do. Thanks for the suggestion. I appreciate it.

Bob

[posplayr]

I'm currently in the process of trying to match a GS1100E oil temp sensor to a 2nd gen GSXR water temp guage for mounting on my 1st Gen oiler as a oil temp guage.

The OEM manuals usually provides tests to check the sensor (i.e. restatcne v.s. temp values). If the basic range remains the same same, the sensor should work even if there is a different part number.

Additionally there are typically two resistors mounted in the guages. There resistors are part of a resistor divider circuit which matches the sensor. It might be possible to match teh resistros to a sensor, but for you I would start by finding a sensor with the right range first.

The only bikes that I'm aware of that have sensor were 82-83 GS1100E/ES/S probably also the 83-86 700-750's and 84-86 GS1150s'.

Sounds like the GS1000S also .

Dumb question, is there anyway to tap into your aftermarket adapter and fit the sensor there? I did something similar when I put my top end oiler on.

[rputney01]

Dumb question, is there anyway to tap into your aftermarket adapter and fit the sensor there? I did something similar when I put my top end oiler on.

Actually, that is what I'm hoping to do. The wire to the gauge is right down there next to the oil pressure switch. Assuming that I can find a sensor, I'm hoping that I can just plumb it into the oil line going from the engine to the cooler. I'm a novice at this, but I did make my own braided oil lines over the winter, so I think that I could make this work.

I have a lot to learn regarding matching the sensor output signal to the gauge. Right now, that is out of my league. However, I work with some engineers who design sensors for industrial applications, so I'm hoping to get some help.

Thanks for your advice. I'll pull out the manual tonight to see what I can find out.

[posplayr]

As far as mounting a sensor into the adapter plate, you might find you can't get enough depth for the end of the sensor. I tried to use some standard brass fittings, but found they were not long enough to accommodate the length of the OEM sensor. So I ended up making a fitting out of a block of brass and some threaded brass pipe.

See the result in my top end oiler thread.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=120828

[rputney01]

My machining skills (and equipment) are zero, however, I may be able to prevail upon some co-workers back in our machine shop to help me with this. I appreciate the info and the idea.

As usual, it appears that this will be more challenging than my simple mind was expecting, but I'm learning a lot. Thanks for the advice.

[rputney01]

[QUOTE=posplayr;1021760]

The only bikes that I'm aware of that have sensor were 82-83 GS1100E/ES/S probably also the 83-86 700-750's and 84-86 GS1150s'.

Sounds like the GS1000S also .
QUOTE]

Part # 34870-49000 is still available from Suzuki and it fits the '80 GS1000S, the '82-'83 GS1100E & ES and the '82 GS750E. It is a little over $60.00 to buy it new. Do you know of any way to get specs on these sensors? If the output range is similar and it is just a different size part, I could probably still make it work.

Thanks.

[posplayr]

That is the sensor I showed in the pic. The nominal range is provided in the various manuals. I bought a NOS spare recently for cheap. They do come along.

[rputney01]

Thanks again for the coaching. I forum member got me a thermistor from a 750. I checked the resistance before and after refridgeration and my stove and it looks like it is all within spec.

On to the machining, but I'm making progress. Appreciate your help!!

[Ghostgs1]

sensor location

Hard to see in this photo, but best I can get. This is a lockhart adapter, but I don't know if the sensor was added later or provided for on adapter. Seems to work fine there. Ray