No oil warning light

[catdna]

I hadn't noticed before (because my idiot-light panels are so dirty / glazed) but I have no oil warning light...

Checked the bulb - it's fine as proven by swapping over with one of the others.

A closer look inside the headlight revealed a couple of wires with connectors, not actually connected to anything ! Now, I'm not sure if this is because I don't have a front brake light switch (there's not one in the brake lever - I have a replacement but not got around to fitting it yet ... expect more questions later )

So... can anyone tell me if the oil warning light wiring goes through the headlight ? or would this be the brake light switch ?

Also... should I worry about it ? The bike appears to run just fine (even sorted my 'squeak' issue)

It's an XS1100 F.... (UK model, so I don't think I have all the extra 'warning' lights and wiring US models have)

Cheers

Chris

[bikerphil]

The oil warning light is a red/blk wire for hot, which runs from the bulb to a connector in the headlight bucket. Then it runs thru the harness to a single plug connector by the fuse box, then to the sending unit. When there is no pressure, the circuit is closed illuminating the light. When oil pressure is present, the circuit opens and the light goes off. Hopefully this will help you trace the circuit and find the problem.

[catdna]

The oil warning light is a red/blk wire for hot, which runs from the bulb to a connector in the headlight bucket. Then it runs thru the harness to a single plug connector by the fuse box, then to the sending unit. When there is no pressure, the circuit is closed illuminating the light. When oil pressure is present, the circuit opens and the light goes off. Hopefully this will help you trace the circuit and find the problem.

Thanks for that - I had another quick look inside the headlight and those two wires appear to be from the indicators (or turn signals for those on the west of the Atlantic ) I'm suspecting that they've been rewired on the bike.

However, I don't have a red/black wire in the harness and connector block inside the headlight going to the dash I'll checkout the connector by the fusebox tomorrow (no light now) and see if that's connected.

I did notice that one of my rear bulbs has gone (brake light still works) - I'm beginning to wonder what the PO's did to the wiring on this bike......

I guess I'll be having fun with the multimeter this weekend ... bah...

Cheers
Chris

[John]

Look under the carburetors...you should see the oil pressure sending unit there. The wire should be routed under the starter, and then up the fuse panel, and into the harness.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Cat,

That "sending" unit gets oil and such in it, and it can get sludged up and stuck, so that it doesn't move properly inside and close the circuit to complete the ground. The OIL PRESSURE LIGHT should come on when you first turn the key on before starting it. You can pull the wire from the sending unit, and just connect it to a ground while the key is on to test whether the circuit is working. IF the light comes on, then the sending unit may be stuck. You can then unscrew the sending unit and use some carb cleaner squirted down inside it to clean and loosen the metal plunger that slides up and down, perhaps even poke inside it with a screwdriver to push the plunger up and down while spritzing with cleaner. Then connect the wire to the unit, and touch the unit to the frame/ground and turn key on and oil light should come on IF it was cleaned and loosened up properly!
T.C.

[catdna]

Hey Cat,

That "sending" unit gets oil and such in it, and it can get sludged up and stuck, so that it doesn't move properly inside and close the circuit to complete the ground. The OIL PRESSURE LIGHT should come on when you first turn the key on before starting it. You can pull the wire from the sending unit, and just connect it to a ground while the key is on to test whether the circuit is working. IF the light comes on, then the sending unit may be stuck. You can then unscrew the sending unit and use some carb cleaner squirted down inside it to clean and loosen the metal plunger that slides up and down, perhaps even poke inside it with a screwdriver to push the plunger up and down while spritzing with cleaner. Then connect the wire to the unit, and touch the unit to the frame/ground and turn key on and oil light should come on IF it was cleaned and loosened up properly!
T.C.

Some excellent info there TC - I'll give the 'ground' a test when I get back from work tonight !

Cheers
Chris

[catdna]

Quick update:

Checked the oil pressure switch by grounding it - nothing

Next step - trace the wire back to the battery / fuse area... aha ! shouldn't it be connected to something ?

Looks like the bullet connector has come undone, but couldn't immediately spot the other end of the wire (guess I'll have to remove the battery or fusebox to have a hunt around for it - nothing obvious was dangling around !

I really must get a garage with lights / power in it at some stage ! will take another snoop around tomorrow lunchtime.

Cheers all
Chris

[catdna]

Final update

Found the other end of the wire - of course it's behind the fuse box with no 'free play' so had to remove that.

... and speaking of the fuse box.... yuk !

I'm gonna have to get in touch with TC (?) to get a new one - this thing is just horrible !

Cheers all

Chris

[DGXSER]

Hey Cat, it is pretty common that the fuse box gets ugly. TC does have a nice replacement box. I've installed two and they work really nice.

[CatatonicBug]

+1 for the fuse box upgrade!! Best $9 thing I've ever done to my bike. Way more than worth it. Takes an hour to fix, start to finish.

[catdna]

TC's already contacted me by PM with the 'hard sell' ;-) I'm placing an order tomorrow for one

Cheers all
Chris

[bobber]

i like the trike chris. do you have to wear a lid on that. hows summer goin.

[catdna]

i like the trike chris. do you have to wear a lid on that. hows summer goin.

In the UK you don't have to (by law) wear a lid on a trike

Hurts like hell when you get hit by a bee / stone chipping / fly / etc at about 60mph on the head though ! I always wear 'bulletproof' bike glasses and a 'snood' (scarf thingie that goes up over my nose - keeps the bugs out of your teeth) - it also helps to hide the massive grin you get from riding it

Never tend to take the trike more than 70mph (it will do quite a bit more), now the 2 wheeled XS... that's a different story