Pressure Gauge Bye Bye

Like so many things - this subject is all about doing what YOU are comfortable with. And it's typically about personal experience as opposed to a 'scientific" study of whatever the subject might be. IOW, "[This] happened to me so now I always do [whatever]"

For example, some folks on a trip carry a container of gas with them because they ran out of gas once and don't care to repeat the experience; others don't worry about it...etc.
 
Indeed Mike. I think this thread mixes two separate discussions:

1) Whether or not to have a gauge: As you say, that’s simply personal preference. Period.
2) The idea that a gauge is a “possible engine killing liabilty”: I don’t think this is fair at all, no good quality / correctly installed gauge is a “possible engine killing liabilty”.

Seems simple to me: if you don’t want a gauge, don’t fit one. If you do, then fit a good one and fit it properly.

Either way, carry on.
 
The challenge when riding is your out in the elements, often near blinded by low sun, vulnerable & exposed (not literally...but if that's your thing fair play to you :) ) along with potentially poor positioning of a gauge or warning "tell-tale" actually seeing either device can be time consuming & off putting
And as its actually a lot better to not be taking your eyes off the road ahead with the many threats waiting to wipe us out.
Surely is would be far better to have a low pressure switch fitted wired to a 110 decibel siren/claxon... if wouldn't just alert you to a low pressure incident but wake you up and potentially make you crap yourself....it could of course be just wired into the horn
 
I have to totally disagree with the premise that an oil pressure gauge is likely to cause your motor to blow up at my gauge has saved me twice!

MKIII has a conical seal between the oil pump and timing cover. I've had it split twice leaving the engine with little pressure. Ignorance may be bliss but in this case ignorance would have been the cause of a seized engine.

Buy a good oil filled gauge and use good aircraft AN fittings and lines. Using cheap materials is not the way to go.
 
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.
 
Looking back.....
This discussion clearly illustrates one thing
You should always go with your gut instinct ...and sometimes it takes a few years to realize.... that first thought
 

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After reading this excerpt from a doc found on NOC (attached below), i've decided to follow the sage advice and eliminate a possible engine killing liabilty:

"Mention of pressure brings me to another point-the fitting of oil pressure gauges. On the Commando (and for similar
reasons. most bikes) an oil pressure gauge is more of a liability than an asset. It is of necessity, fitted on the feed side
where any failure of pipe or gauge is disastrous to engine and rider--it's touch and go whether the engine seizes
before or after you fall off with oil on the back wheel. On the Commando this failure could be caused by engine
vibration in the same way that early rocker pipes failed. (We're coming to that.) The other reason that a pressure
gauge isn't much good is really twofold. At high speeds and high oil temperatures the pressure can drop to nothing
on the gauge because the pump can hardly keep up with the rate the stuff is flying out of the big ends. The
centrifugal force can keep the pressure at the big ends above the danger point, so there's no real panic--but the gauge
would inspire you with horror. Then of course if you did seize an oil pump by the time you noticed that the pressure
had dropped the big ends would have gone (. . . through the hole in the crankcase, with average N.O.C. luck!). If you
want an interesting gauge to frighten yourself with, but, which is inherently safer and can give useful information, fit
an oil temperature gauge in the oil tank. Let me know what it reads as you change into top for the Mountain Mile on
both the fourth or fifth lap! The latest Racing Nortons (we can't call them J.P. Nortons any more as they've stopped
the bikes from smoking) had a new type of oil pump-I wonder if this is because the ordinary pump can't keep up?"
Don't the rods always knock first for a while ? , before getting out , I'm sure you'll hear something.
 
I run the Old Britts oil pressure gauge with a double banjo on the rocker feed line AND an oil pressure light with the sending unit tapped in likewise at the oil pump.
 
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The Holland Norton Works gauge can be easily adapted to fit where you like
I fitted mine via the steering lock (never used it) with a counter sunk bolt with a rubber bushing ...the oil lines are robust and I don't see any future issue.
 

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I stop for 15 minutes if I feel my bike is too hot, to let it cool down, i believe that this will let the engine temperature drop sufficiently to perform as it should, so I am the temperature / pressure geuge, am i wrong with this believe?
 
A gauge is a reading device, not a warning device. Now, if you want to use it as a warning device….
 
NorCat,
How do you feel if your bike is too hot?
Mike
Hot day, a couple of hours driving hard on mountain roads or sprit driving on fast roads.

A touch to the head with a wet finger and boiling inmediaty tells me it was time to stop to cool down the Norton and go for a pee and a little rest.
 
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