Fitting an oil pressure gauge to a Bandit 600

Due to the damaged oil pressure switch mounting[1] on the crankcase of
my Bandit, I am looking at fitting an oil pressure gauge rather than
relying on the dash light and plugging the old switch hole with a
Loctited in blanking bolt. There is a point on the lower crankcase where
I could fit the sender, but it would require an adapter of some variety
to make this possible.

Is there a commonly available range of adaptors out there from which I
could choose the correct one to suit my application? Has anyone done
this to a Jap multi?

[1] A section of the lug is snapped off and the threads are nadgered.
The switch popped out today and wrecked the igntion pulse rotor, which
at 70 quid is a bit too pricey to risk damaging again. Plus, it left me
stranded at the side of the A120 for more than 2 hours waiting for
recovery.

 

A call to Demon Tweeks should see you right. Their range of car type
stuff, if you've visit the warehouse, is mind boggling.

Motorsport: Tel: 08453306241
Email:

MOTORCYCLE (UK)
Motorcycle: Tel: 08453306239

 

Hog said...

I've scanned through their site now, there are quite a few available. I
was wondering about fitting a T-piece in so I can still have an oil
presure light too. Thanks.

 

Mark Olson said...

Useful info, thanks. Why did you use a mechanical one and not the
elctronic variety?

 

I looked at doing this a while back on the Harley after I kept having
the oil pressure light coming on (wiring fault in the end, not an oil or
switch fault).

Problem I ran into (other than the cost, obviously) was the range of the
gauges. Typically the ones I found were 0-10 psi or 0-100 psi, but the
HD runs at about 15 psi; one gauge is too small and the other hardly
moves.

 

Perhaps a manometer tube hung over the handlebars or around your neck
would suffice? Use alcohol rather than mercury and you have an
emergency Dram at hand.

 

Gyp said...

Bandits run between 45 and 80 psi at 3K revs. A 0-100psi unit will do
the job fine.

 

For a guide to pressure, the electronic one is ok, but the downside is
the weight of the sender - they're quite bulky and the engine vibes
acting on the mounting threads won't do them any good. Another downside
is the dubious accuracy of the off-the-shelf oil gauges.

The directly coupled oil-line type is simpler, lighter, but more prone
to physical damage to the line.

Standard practice on a lot of engines.
--
Dave
GS850x2 XS650 SE6a
I demand nothing of you except that you amuse me.

Folding@Home Team UKRM
http://vspx27.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/main.py?qtype=teampage&teamnum=47957

 

A bit cumbersome Shirley - using alcohol in this manometer, to show
15psi (with a margin), would involve a tube rather taller than would fit
under most bridges - planning a route would be a nightmare. And one
would need an extendable ladder to climb up to take a reading.

 

Ok so you would have some portable infrastructure but imagine the hit
when you scoff it

 

As long as it's all chromed it'll be fine.

 

Cool.
(Having just noticed that Easy Rider was shown on C4 early this morning
and remembering Peter Fonda's chopper, I think I can see where you're
coming from - simply an extended sissy bar really.)