Pressure Gauge Bye Bye

Tornado said:
If that were true we'd all never forget to check our turn signal warning lamp while riding. Your eyes are much too busy searching to threats on the road around you to effectively monitor the instruments/warning lights.
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So you are saying you'd notice an oil pressure gauge dropping to zero
More quickly than an oil light coming on ?
 
"Electrical" sender units are generally very reliable with a tolerance of say 5 psi either way ...on or off...I personally prefer a "Mechanical" indicator
 
Ummm, no. I'm saying niether a guage nor a light is ideal as a fail detection system on a critical piece of hardware like an engine. More so when the operator is not able to scan the display frequently while riding. How many times have we all been guilty of leaving a turn signal on, the warning light going unnoticed for blocks and blocks? If that was a pressure guage or a pressure warning light, makes no difference.
 
Tornado said:
Ummm, no. I'm saying niether a guage nor a light is ideal as a fail detection system on a critical piece of hardware like an engine. More so when the operator is not able to scan the display frequently while riding. How many times have we all been guilty of leaving a turn signal on, the warning light going unnoticed for blocks and blocks? If that was a pressure guage or a pressure warning light, makes no difference.
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When I was younger and even more foolisher than I am now I had an oil tap fitted to my 850
Late for work one morning I'd forgotten to turn it on
I got 7 miles before it started to rattle and started to feel tight
I pulled over immediately and turned the tap on
I 'just' saved the motor
It quietened down and just carried on as usual
So in my completely unscientific way I'm guessing you have 7 miles from an oil pressure failure to notice an oil light on/pressure gauge
Around a year ago the oil pressure light came on on my 750
I pulled over and all I could check was the oil return which was fine
I decided it must be the sender switch as the motor ran fine
So I nervously rode home hovering the clutch lever
I took the sender off and screwed in a pressure gauge
Bizarrely the guage didn't work! I didn't know that at the time
So after much head scratching I tried another guage
The pressure was fine
So a new sender was fitted and it's fine again
On my trident I have a pressure gauge and oil pressure light
They are considered more essential on a trident
 
Had a gauge fitted when I got the bike, read well when cold, but panic set in when it was showing nothing when hot but running ok. Removed it and 27 years later and the bike has yet to blow up and for many years I was using supermarket 5w-40 full synthetic.
 
Tornado said:
Ummm, no. I'm saying niether a guage nor a light is ideal as a fail detection system on a critical piece of hardware like an engine. More so when the operator is not able to scan the display frequently while riding. How many times have we all been guilty of leaving a turn signal on, the warning light going unnoticed for blocks and blocks? If that was a pressure guage or a pressure warning light, makes no difference.
Click to expand...

Interesting ...................... I've known people who have installed a audio warning alarm to their turn signal system to remind them that their flasher is still active and believe it or not , plenty of people call them out for it stating it is silly and not necessary .. Not being critical of your post but more inquisitive as to why you or others are in a position of not being able to make a frequent scan of an instrument that may save their motor and even more , their life . Face it ..... riding a bike is more dangerous then driving a car and requires even more attention to help ensure a safe return home

Cheers
 
This is starting to turn into another clash of opinions.

It is possible to run BOTH a gauge and a warning light, as I do. The warning light saved my engine during an evening ride after my breather vent hose popped off the oil tank, draining all my oil over the back tire. Gauge was useless as it was dark, but that light coming on sure got my attention and allowed me to quickly pull off the highway.

CanukNortonNut said:
I use an "oil filled" oil gauge with good results. +75 K miles and still going strong. I got mine from B.C.S. , when I first bought my 850 Interstate. First it shows when I can start putting the beans to my ride when the engine oil warms up to operating temp. My Bike will start with about 60+ psi from a cold start, (SRM Engineering) PRV. It moves down to about 45-50 psi at 55mph in 4th gear, 3000+ RPM when properly warmed up. It shows how hot the bike gets with a pressure drop on very extreme hot days of +90 deg. F. I've seen it drop to about 20 psi at 75 mph in 4th on these hot days.
I route my lines carefully through the triple tree and use a spiral cable protector and or grommets. I make a cut radially from one section of the I.D. and O.D. of the grommet and then use a small zip tie in the groove after I carefully place it in a possible rub area of the oil pressure tube.
A idiot light, as stated above is a good idea and would get your attention as I tend to not scan my gauges as often when I'm in the twisties.
I always look at it when ever I do an oil/ filter change out or a long winter layover. I check for oil return to the tank when the seat is still off during these maintenance activities.
Trending from normal is a time for investigation. that's my Nickle worth.
Cheers,
Tom
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SRM must have adjusted the blow off pressure on their valves, mine consistently blows off at 50psi on cold start, with a consistent reading of 40-45psi hot running at 4000 rpm. Hot idle approx 5-10 psi
 
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acadian said:
This is starting to turn into another clash of opinions.

It is possible to run BOTH a gauge and a warning light, as I do. The warning light saved my engine during an evening ride after my breather vent hose popped off the oil tank, draining all my oil over the back tire. Gauge was useless as it was dark, but that light coming on sure got my attention and allowed me to quickly pull off the highway.
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" This is starting to turn into another clash of opinions " Yep !!!!! That's why it is called a forum. ;)
 
The reason I questioned the story was the line about a pressure gauge (that works properly) going to zero while running and an oil pump not keeping up ( IF the bike is mechanically sound and properly assembled). I have read many stories on this site and even know a few people who blew up engines by not having an oil pressure gauge. The gauge is just another valuable tool that helps you diagnose things and it's a cool looking mod. Of course, it must be installed properly or its much to do about nothing.
 
Oil pressure gauges on old motorcycles are a distraction. ;)

The oil pressure gauge I had on my Norton is in a tool box drawer. However, this thread got me to thinking I don't believe I put the spring shim that was in the old pressure relief housing in the new shiny stainless pressure relief valve housing I installed 30 years ago. I need to go check on that.
 
Not wanting to throw shade on having a gauge/warning light but I once had a radar detector mounted in direct line-of-sight on a Hannigan SS fairing. It also had a warning buzzer. While digging out my registration one bright sunny day as the cop dug out his ticket book, I noted that the lights on the radar detector were flashing like mad and after taking my ear plugs out I could hear the buzzer. The cop said nothing about either. "Going camping?" He asked, looking at the red dry bag lashed on my rack.
 
Thomasa said:
Not wanting to throw shade on having a gauge/warning light but I once had a radar detector mounted in direct line-of-sight on a Hannigan SS fairing. It also had a warning buzzer. While digging out my registration one bright sunny day as the cop dug out his ticket book, I noted that the lights on the radar detector were flashing like mad and after taking my ear plugs out I could hear the buzzer. The cop said nothing about either. "Going camping?" He asked, looking at the red dry bag lashed on my rack.
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Yeah, gotta look at the gauge or light. Blew up a nice Chevy truck turbo diesel motor not looking at the oil gauge. Wife said something about it being at 0, and by then it was all over.
 
Ron Hulton said:
Interesting ...................... I've known people who have installed a audio warning alarm to their turn signal system to remind them that their flasher is still active and believe it or not , plenty of people call them out for it stating it is silly and not necessary .. Not being critical of your post but more inquisitive as to why you or others are in a position of not being able to make a frequent scan of an instrument that may save their motor and even more , their life . Face it ..... riding a bike is more dangerous then driving a car and requires even more attention to help ensure a safe return home

Cheers
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"Frequent scan of an instrument". Well yes, majority of time we do scan frequently, but there are times when you are distracted, like when wondering it that car is about to pull out in front of you.

Are you saying you have never left a turn signal flashing while blissfully riding along?

My point is that a better alert would be to have something other than a little light or dial you must be looking at to detect a problem. Audio or vibration warning units are readily available and low cost. Could be the difference between a happy ending or a seized engine.
 
Carl H said:
I have read many stories on this site and even know a few people who blew up engines by not having an oil pressure gauge.
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In my case the gauge was making my engine more likely to blow up. Two incidents of the line coming disconnected. That is why I removed it. The quick connect push in connector setup was not working reliably for my comfort level. I contacted the shop that sold it to me (Classic British Spares) and they only said the problem has never been reported to them before.

I will reconsider if and when I can sort a better connector (proper compression fitting or a banjo with swaged on oil line).

For now I'm happy to continue riding sans a pressure warning. Afterall, this is how all Nortons came from factory and many have lasted 4 or 5 decades without any pressure warning system.
 
The number of times I have had any kind of engine- car, motorcycle, or marine fail due to an oil pressure problem is...None.

One of the big marine engine diesels I worked on a lot had OP gauges and low pressure alarm buzzers. Typically the low pressure alarm was constant with the engine at idle at operating temp. Operators either disabled them or learned to ignore them. These engines were still running perfectly after 20+ years with nearly no oil pressure at idle...

It's possible to over-worry! ;)
 
MexicoMike said:
The number of times I have had any kind of engine- car, motorcycle, or marine fail due to an oil pressure problem is...None.

One of the big marine engine diesels I worked on a lot had OP gauges and low pressure alarm buzzers. Typically the low pressure alarm was constant with the engine at idle at operating temp. Operators either disabled them or learned to ignore them. These engines were still running perfectly after 20+ years with nearly no oil pressure at idle...

It's possible to over-worry! ;)
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So are you saying I should just re-install my setup again and hope it doesn't spew out oil again? Last time it dumps nearly 1L in less than 4 or 5 min.?
 
MexicoMike said:
The number of times I have had any kind of engine- car, motorcycle, or marine fail due to an oil pressure problem is...None.

One of the big marine engine diesels I worked on a lot had OP gauges and low pressure alarm buzzers. Typically the low pressure alarm was constant with the engine at idle at operating temp. Operators either disabled them or learned to ignore them. These engines were still running perfectly after 20+ years with nearly no oil pressure at idle...

It's possible to over-worry! ;)
Click to expand...
I used the don't worry method when I blew up my GM turbo diesel. Then it became a $6500 worry for a motor. By the way, a factory fitting blew apart and barfed oil all over the inside of the engine bay. After warranty failure of course. Never say never.
 
Thomasa said:
Not wanting to throw shade on having a gauge/warning light but I once had a radar detector mounted in direct line-of-sight on a Hannigan SS fairing. It also had a warning buzzer. While digging out my registration one bright sunny day as the cop dug out his ticket book, I noted that the lights on the radar detector were flashing like mad and after taking my ear plugs out I could hear the buzzer. The cop said nothing about either. "Going camping?" He asked, looking at the red dry bag lashed on my rack.
Click to expand...
I always quickly pulled my gloves off, layed them over my radar detector as I got my license & reg out.
 

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