Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Electrickery

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Electrickery

    I put a digital oil temp guage in later last year and it never read accurately, numbers would vary with rpm some and after 15-20 min of riding it would just max out at 150 C, but if you flip the kill switch the guage drops down to what the temp would really be (90-105C). Sender is located in the back of the oil pan.

    I have a single 12 awg wire in the fairing for a ground for everything in there that runs to the reg/rect or battery don't remember which. Then I have also added a ground from the engine to the engine to the battery. Neither of these help.

    Anyone else have any ideas what is going on here and what might correct it?
    Nathan
    KD9ARL

    μολὼν λαβέ

    1978 XS1100E
    K&N Filter
    #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
    OEM Exhaust
    ATK Fork Brace
    LED Dash lights
    Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters

    Green Monster Coils
    SS Brake Lines
    Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

    In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

    Theodore Roosevelt

  • #2
    What are you using for supply voltage? Might try hooking it directly to the battery for supply...and ground, couldn't hurt...
    '79 XS11 F
    Stock except K&N

    '79 XS11 SF
    Stock, no title.

    '84 Chevy K-10 "Big Blue"
    GM 350, Muncie SM465, NP208, GM 10 Bolt with 3.42gears turnin 31x10.5 Baja Claws

    "What they do have is an implacable, unrelenting presence and movement that bespeaks massive power lurking behind paint and chrome. They don't wail like a screeching ninja, the don't rumble like a harley. They just growl like a spactic, stressed out badger waiting to rip your face off and eat your soul." Trainzz~RIP~

    Comment


    • #3
      Of it was straight to the battery it would always be on. It is hooked to the switched hot wire that is on the headlight bucket.
      Nathan
      KD9ARL

      μολὼν λαβέ

      1978 XS1100E
      K&N Filter
      #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
      OEM Exhaust
      ATK Fork Brace
      LED Dash lights
      Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters

      Green Monster Coils
      SS Brake Lines
      Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

      In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

      Theodore Roosevelt

      Comment


      • #4
        Nate, the only thing I can think of is the supply voltage is too high. When you shut off the motor, voltage drops back to just battery voltage and the gauge reads right. Most aftermarket gauges have 'regulators' built-in, yours may have failed. You might try getting a gauge regulator off an older car and inserting it into the gauge power lead.....
        Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

        '78E original owner - resto project
        '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
        '82 XJ rebuild project
        '80SG restified, red SOLD
        '79F parts...
        '81H more parts...

        Other current bikes:
        '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
        '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
        '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
        Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
        Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

        Comment


        • #5
          But then if that were the case it would read correct at idle when the voltage is not above 12.5 ish. The oil temp guage is powered off the same line as the volt meter (not through the meter just branched off the same line).
          Nathan
          KD9ARL

          μολὼν λαβέ

          1978 XS1100E
          K&N Filter
          #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
          OEM Exhaust
          ATK Fork Brace
          LED Dash lights
          Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters

          Green Monster Coils
          SS Brake Lines
          Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

          In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

          Theodore Roosevelt

          Comment


          • #6
            After thinking about it some more, one other possibility... vibration. I'm pretty sure the sending unit is a bi-metal unit of some sort, maybe the 'frequency' of the XS motor is causing the problem.

            Maybe a different sending unit (with the same ohm range) would fix it, but that's a bit of a guess....
            Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

            '78E original owner - resto project
            '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
            '82 XJ rebuild project
            '80SG restified, red SOLD
            '79F parts...
            '81H more parts...

            Other current bikes:
            '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
            '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
            '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
            Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
            Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

            Comment


            • #7
              I'd measure your supply voltage to various RPM just to see if it varries with the engine speed...
              '79 XS11 F
              Stock except K&N

              '79 XS11 SF
              Stock, no title.

              '84 Chevy K-10 "Big Blue"
              GM 350, Muncie SM465, NP208, GM 10 Bolt with 3.42gears turnin 31x10.5 Baja Claws

              "What they do have is an implacable, unrelenting presence and movement that bespeaks massive power lurking behind paint and chrome. They don't wail like a screeching ninja, the don't rumble like a harley. They just growl like a spactic, stressed out badger waiting to rip your face off and eat your soul." Trainzz~RIP~

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by WMarshy View Post
                I'd measure your supply voltage to various RPM just to see if it varries with the engine speed...
                Both volt gauge and oil temp gauge are on the same wire, and I am running a Geezer reg/rect.

                Originally posted by crazy steve View Post
                After thinking about it some more, one other possibility... vibration. I'm pretty sure the sending unit is a bi-metal unit of some sort, maybe the 'frequency' of the XS motor is causing the problem.
                That is a intriguing thought but I don't know why that would be an issue
                Nathan
                KD9ARL

                μολὼν λαβέ

                1978 XS1100E
                K&N Filter
                #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
                OEM Exhaust
                ATK Fork Brace
                LED Dash lights
                Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters

                Green Monster Coils
                SS Brake Lines
                Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

                In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

                Theodore Roosevelt

                Comment


                • #9
                  Nate its the time warp effect. What the hell did you expect running a Digital gauge on an Analog bike
                  Phil
                  1981 XS1100 H Venturer ( Addie)
                  1983 XJ 650 Maxim
                  2004 Kawasaki Concours. ( Black Bear)

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Little more clarification on the "varies with RPMs" aspect. It isn't like there is any direct corrolation between RPMs and gauge reading, it just has a tendancy to do certain things when I do certain things. For example, if I am high in the rpm range and let off suddenly the gauge will usually drop a few degrees. Could be that the sensor gets uncovered and it really does see a couple degree drop though, I don't know.
                    Nathan
                    KD9ARL

                    μολὼν λαβέ

                    1978 XS1100E
                    K&N Filter
                    #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
                    OEM Exhaust
                    ATK Fork Brace
                    LED Dash lights
                    Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters

                    Green Monster Coils
                    SS Brake Lines
                    Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

                    In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

                    Theodore Roosevelt

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      As a resolution to this thread, it seems that a better input voltage source and/or a better grounding path seem to have solved the problem.

                      Thanks all!
                      Nathan
                      KD9ARL

                      μολὼν λαβέ

                      1978 XS1100E
                      K&N Filter
                      #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
                      OEM Exhaust
                      ATK Fork Brace
                      LED Dash lights
                      Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters

                      Green Monster Coils
                      SS Brake Lines
                      Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

                      In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

                      Theodore Roosevelt

                      Comment

                      Working...
                      X