Oil Temp Gauge

[crazy steve]

Anybody running an oil tempature gauge? I recently picked up a set of electric mini-gauges that I'm going to try to fit to one of my XSs, and I've got to figure out a place to install the sending unit. Yes, you can get gauges that go in place of the oil fill cap, but those don't work on these bikes.

The sending unit isn't all that big; about 2" long and fits in a 1/8" pipe tapped hole. I'm thinking I may have to have a bung tig-welded onto the oil pan, or cut a 'well' into the oil line feeding the head. Or maybe now would be a good time to convert to a SOFA, and machine the sending unit into that...

Anybody done this, and what did you do? No oil cooler (and I don't plan to fit one), so that's not an option...

Thanks! And merry X-mas!

[John]

I have an electric Stewart Warner gauge on my Bag Lady (80 SG). It is installed into the oil drain plug. It was already there when I bought the bike, so I don't know if some one drilled and tapped the threads for the sender into the OEM plug, or tapped standard threads int the pan to accept the sender and adaptor fitting.

[Jerry]

See this thread:
http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...ressure&page=1
The solution I mentioned could also be used for monitoring oil temps rather than pressure. (Adapter from Planedick, page 2 of the thread.)

[crazy steve]

Jerry, I thought about something like that, but I worry that the sending unit won't have enough 'flow' past it to give an accurate reading. Generally, a fluid temp sensor is installed somewhere where the measured fluid can flow past or there's a fluid exchange going on. With a dead-end fitting like that, it'll fill up, then the rest will bypass. You're then depending on convection/heat transfer, which may or may not give an accurate reading. But I'll look at that, to see if it may be possible to get the sensor end down into the oil flow without restricting oil to the head.

The fill plug idea isn't too bad and would be fairly easy except for the hassle involved when changing oil.

[John]

It's really no hassle at all. Just loosen the sender fitting a couple of turns so it will spin on the sender, then remove the drain plug. An open end wrench works well if someone hasn't put the gorilla tight on it. Or just remove the sender altogether, and let the oil drain through the small opening. It just takes a little longer that way. Most gauges come with different size adaptor fittings, so chances are one will fit the drain plug hole. Like I said, I didn't do the install, so I can't say if the threads were changed to standard, or if the adaptor plug is metric.

[Yahman]

I have one that I will be installing on my XJ very soon. I am going to put the sending unit where the original oil level sensor was, in the oil pan.

Larry

[crazy steve]

I have one that I will be installing on my XJ very soon. I am going to put the sending unit where the original oil level sensor was, in the oil pan.

Larry

I thought about that, but I can't find a pic of the XJ pan to see just where the sensor mounts. One concern I have is the furnished sensor I have is about 2" long, and if mounting it vertically I'm afraid it may not actually be fully in the oil...

[XSrunner]

HI I'm running oil temp Vdo gauge the sender replaces the oil drain plug the gauge runs around 180- 220 deg F don't know if that is normal but hasn't changed in 4 yrs also have Head Temp goes onto number one spark plug.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Pic's

Got any pic's of the sparkplug setup?

HI I'm running oil temp Vdo gauge the sender replaces the oil drain plug the gauge runs around 180- 220 deg F don't know if that is normal but hasn't changed in 4 yrs also have Head Temp goes onto number one spark plug.

[XSrunner]

Hi haven't got any pics but check out this site hope it helps thanks http://www.egauges.com/vdo_mult.asp?...Series=Cockpit

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Steve,

The XJ's sensor is directly in the bottom of the pan...see this photo from the Dremmel fix tip....I used and XJ as the model!



Surprisingly the Yamaha Parts fiche site doesn't show the sensor in the pan, nor the hole in the pan??

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/partview...J1100J_-_1982)

This shows the sensor as Part #10 in the lower left corner...it's about 1.5 to 2" long/deep!

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/partview...J1100J_-_1982)

So..you could make a plate to fit where the sensor would bolt to, and tap the plate to mount the temp sensor. Of course you would need to get an XJ pan.

OR.....you could drill/tap your pan to mount it onto/into the side or bottom! JAT!

T.C.

PS...Yamaha changed their site and it prevents direct linking to their fiche!!

[crazy steve]

OR.....you could drill/tap your pan to mount it onto/into the side or bottom! JAT!

T.C.

That's a hell of a good idea; why didn't I think of that??

If I machine a flat spot onto the pan, I could bolt an adaptor to it. I don't think the pan's thick enough to just drill/tap it. No welding involved, and I won't need a XJ pan. THANKS!!!