Bandit Alley

GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: Big Bo on April 06, 2008, 01:16:05 PM

Title: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Big Bo on April 06, 2008, 01:16:05 PM
Where can I get an oil temp gauge that screws into the oil fill hole?
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Red01 on April 06, 2008, 05:53:25 PM
Check out:

http://forums.banditalley.net/index.php?topic=10011.0
The Daytona Digital gauge shown in this thread --> http://www.daytona.co.jp/mc/global/products/02/temp.html

http://forums.banditalley.net/index.php?topic=5483.0

http://forums.banditalley.net/index.php?topic=1965.0

http://www.motorcycleanchor.com/products/electro.html

Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Big Bo on April 06, 2008, 06:37:09 PM
Thank you Red01, I want simplicity. Pull the oil plug, screw the temp gauge in. I don`t want to deal with wiring.

 :thanks:
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Vlad on April 07, 2008, 09:02:58 AM
Where can I get an oil temp gauge that screws into the oil fill hole?

I got mine on eBay about a year ago. It wasn't easy to find and it cost me about $60-70 including shipping if I recall well. looks similar to this one, but without chrome edge and with shorter "dipstick":

http://i4.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/c1/3b/1ed0_2.JPG
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: mwheat308 on April 07, 2008, 09:59:55 AM
I don't know if this is what you are looking for or not. It looks simple enough to me.
http://www.getgeared.co.uk/acatalog/moto-detail_Motorcycle_Oil_Temperature_Gauge.html
Hope it helps
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: mademiriam on April 07, 2008, 12:56:53 PM
I actually had a couple of these lying around here somewhere from a buddy who was really in to vintage racing. Can't seem to find them right now and they weren't very 'nice' to begin with, also required you to drill a hole through your existing gas cap.
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Red01 on April 07, 2008, 01:51:15 PM
Thank you Red01, I want simplicity. Pull the oil plug, screw the temp gauge in. I don`t want to deal with wiring.

 :thanks:

 :duh: I don't know of a US source that carries one for a B12, but one of the other boards did a group buy of some of this type from some outfit in Germany several years ago.  You can get them from the UK - here's some:

http://www.justbandits.com/shop/product.asp?numRecordPosition=11&P_ID=413&strPageHistory=&strKeywords=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=78

(http://www.justbandits.com/shop/uploads/images_products_large/413.jpg)

http://www.getgeared.co.uk/acatalog/moto-detail_Motorcycle_Oil_Temperature_Gauge.html

(http://www.getgeared.co.uk/acatalog/10034300_PU.jpg)

http://www.mandp.co.uk/productInfo.aspx?tier1=Spares&tier2=Oil+Temperature+Gauges&tier3=On+Two+Wheels&tier4=Bike+Specfic

(http://www.mandp.co.uk/netalogue/photos/large/GMMZZMPOT.jpg)

You may be able to find a US vendor for one of the above gauges if you search more thoroughly than I did.
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Vlad on April 07, 2008, 03:15:31 PM
I don't know if this is what you are looking for or not. It looks simple enough to me.
http://www.getgeared.co.uk/acatalog/moto-detail_Motorcycle_Oil_Temperature_Gauge.html
Hope it helps

That's the one I have. Make sure you get the right model for your Bandit. It's not just the thread size - the ones with long dip-stick won't fit as they'll hit the clutch.
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: jimyed on April 14, 2008, 10:44:25 AM
Sorry for the Noob question but why the Oil temp Gauge? I saw Vlads and meant to ask but didn't when we were out a few weeks ago .  Oil temp gauges have not been a topic on other bike boards that I can recall.
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: txbanditrydr on April 14, 2008, 12:56:28 PM
Some of us just need something more to worry about..... and the others like the bling factor.   :lol:
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Vlad on April 14, 2008, 01:07:59 PM
Sorry for the Noob question but why the Oil temp Gauge? I saw Vlads and meant to ask but didn't when we were out a few weeks ago .  Oil temp gauges have not been a topic on other bike boards that I can recall.

It's mostly for the masochists like me, so they can freak out when the needle goes out of range in heavy stop-and-go traffic at 35 degrees in the shade :). If I didn't have it it wouldn't have bothered me. Not that I heard of anyone ever damaging Bandit's engine by overheating.

Joking aside, Bandits are oil cooled, so this gauge serves the same purpose as the water temp gauge on water cooled engines. It's good to know when your engine is up to temp and ready to be flogged :). I am also a big fan of all sorts of measuring instruments, so it's a plus for me. Other than that, the effect is mostly bling. Bottom line, it would be hard to rationally justify spending more than $30-40 on it.
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: jimyed on April 14, 2008, 01:11:21 PM
Well it did look intriging when I looked at your bike  so.... I can see an Oil temp guage in my future.  :grin:

That wil have to be after the Hindle or Holeshot and jet kit but before the Undertail and hugger.
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Vlad on April 14, 2008, 02:10:17 PM
That wil have to be after the Hindle or Holeshot and jet kit but before the Undertail and hugger.

You got your priorities right my friend :)
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Bandit1250 on April 28, 2008, 10:40:20 PM
There's a guy out here in Morongo Valley California who sells them for $69.95.....I have one on order for my 1250....he has a website....he sells a lot of Kawi parts but will get the threaded temp guages for Suzuki also.
http://www.americanclassix.com/home.html

Here's his e-mail...... info@americanclassix.com .....his name is ALEX.
Just tell him the bike you have and that you want the threaded Oil temp guage, he has White face or Black and in "Feherenhight " or Celcius....tell him Jerry with the Bandit1250 sent you!
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: txbanditrydr on April 29, 2008, 11:27:33 AM
There's a guy out here in Morongo Valley California who sells them for $69.95.....I have one on order for my 1250....

Didn't see it listed on the website so keep us posted when you get yours - I'd like to see one even though I just got one of the Celcius versions (used).
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Vlad on April 30, 2008, 04:54:45 PM
There's a guy out here in Morongo Valley California who sells them for $69.95.....I have one on order for my 1250....

No offense, but an oil temp gauge is borderline useful on an oil cooled 1200 - I can't see it serving any purpose on a water cooled 1250. Maybe cool bling effect, but for $70 + shipping...
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: txbanditrydr on May 01, 2008, 12:45:04 PM
Maybe cool bling effect, but for $70 + shipping...

It is a nice bling-thing....  maybe too tempting though.  I've cleaned up the OEM filler cap and stashed it under the seat in case it gets swiped - experience has taught me that a revving B-12 motor without a filler cap is just a 100hp atomizer and will make a huge mess.   :duh:  (don't ask...  :annoy:)
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Bandit1250 on May 01, 2008, 12:58:52 PM
No offense, but an oil temp gauge is borderline useful on an oil cooled 1200 - I can't see it serving any purpose on a water cooled 1250. Maybe cool bling effect, but for $70 + shipping...[/quote]


No offense taken.......one reason I like one is on a cold morning (I live two blocks from the freeway), I don't like to stress a cold engine, so I take off when the temp reads 100 or so.

If you're running your Bandit hard in the twisties on a HOT day wouldn't you like to know if you need to back off a bit if your engine was starting to run HOT?? Why have "just" one line of defense with the idiot light?
Not sure i get your point about air cooled VS water cooled, any engine can overheat, I don't see how a temp guage wouldn't be beneficial on ANY motorcycle they ALL should have them......if you think about it ANY internal combustion engine should have one!

Also if price is a big issue, work him for a deal........think how expensive an engine is....if you look at it that way $70.00 or so is cheap!  (no I don't work for this guy and I don't know him)  :bandit:
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Bandit1250 on May 01, 2008, 01:09:20 PM

It is a nice bling-thing....  maybe too tempting though.  I've cleaned up the OEM filler cap and stashed it under the seat in case it gets swiped -

Good idea, but I usually don't have to worry about that.
 I use my 1250 just for pleasure riding on the weekends and I park it overnight in the garage....rarely is it out overnight unless I'm doing a weekend overnighter somewhere which I do about twice a year. When I stop for lunch I try to get a "window" seat to keep an eye on the bike ect.....
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: txbanditrydr on May 01, 2008, 03:50:53 PM
^
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Just fixed the quote tag....
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Vlad on May 02, 2008, 12:02:48 PM
No offense taken.......one reason I like one is on a cold morning (I live two blocks from the freeway), I don't like to stress a cold engine, so I take off when the temp reads 100 or so.

That is probably the only valid reason. I assume you are thinking in Fahrenheit, 100 Celsius is way too hot :).

If you're running your Bandit hard in the twisties on a HOT day wouldn't you like to know if you need to back off a bit if your engine was starting to run HOT?? Why have "just" one line of defense with the idiot light?

There is no way for an otherwise OK 1200 to overheat under conditions described above, assuming "running hard in the twisties" means faster than 30km/hr :). It can overheat after about an hour in stop and go traffic at above 30 degrees Celsius, and that would be the other situation a temperature gauge might come handy. There's no chance of something like that happening to a water-cooled engine, though, with it's fan(s) and sensors working properly (even if fans die it will first boil all the coolant before it gets seriously overheated). I'd rather have a water temperature gauge as a better indicator of engine temperature, but as I said it's not necessary for a water cooled engine with forced air flow over the radiator. An indicator light is good enough.

Not sure i get your point about air cooled VS water cooled, any engine can overheat,

Oil cooled can and will overheat when ridden at slow speed as described above. It does not have a fan to force the air flow through the oil cooler (radiator). The cooler is also right above the exhaust headers, so there is an additional positive feedback when standing still or moving very slow. Water cooled machine in good order should not overheat under any circumstances. Even if it does, you would see a lot of steam long before the engine is in danger of being seriously damaged.

don't see how a temp guage wouldn't be beneficial on ANY motorcycle they ALL should have them......if you think about it ANY internal combustion engine should have one!

I agree there. As mentioned, I'm a big fan of measuring instruments of all kinds :). That doesn't make them all useful and practical, though.
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Dink_1170 on May 02, 2008, 05:26:47 PM
No offense taken.......one reason I like one is on a cold morning (I live two blocks from the freeway), I don't like to stress a cold engine, so I take off when the temp reads 100 or so.

That is probably the only valid reason. I assume you are thinking in Fahrenheit, 100 Celsius is way too hot :).


100 C degrees is the normal minimum running temperature of engine oils, otherwise there is no way it will "boil off"condensation etc.

Dink


Mod edit... quote tag fix for clarity
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Vlad on May 02, 2008, 05:56:48 PM
100 C degrees is the normal minimum running temperature of engine oils, otherwise there is no way it will "boil off"condensation etc.

You may call it normal, but I'd hardly call it "minimum". I stand behind the statement that 100C is too high to wait for before you start riding. People just read too much into stuff and that's one of the reasons I wouldn't recommend the temp gauge. Just get on it and ride.
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Bandit1250 on May 02, 2008, 10:35:26 PM
No offense taken.......one reason I like one is on a cold morning (I live two blocks from the freeway), I don't like to stress a cold engine, so I take off when the temp reads 100 or so.

That is probably the only valid reason. I assume you are thinking in Fahrenheit, 100 Celsius is way too hot :).

If you're running your Bandit hard in the twisties on a HOT day wouldn't you like to know if you need to back off a bit if your engine was starting to run HOT?? Why have "just" one line of defense with the idiot light?

There is no way for an otherwise OK 1200 to overheat under conditions described above, assuming "running hard in the twisties" means faster than 30km/hr :). It can overheat after about an hour in stop and go traffic at above 30 degrees Celsius, and that would be the other situation a temperature gauge might come handy. There's no chance of something like that happening to a water-cooled engine, though, with it's fan(s) and sensors working properly (even if fans die it will first boil all the coolant before it gets seriously overheated). I'd rather have a water temperature gauge as a better indicator of engine temperature, but as I said it's not necessary for a water cooled engine with forced air flow over the radiator. An indicator light is good enough.

Maybe not in TORONTO CANADA where you live, but here in Southern Califorina where it can be over 100 degrees and you can be riding HARD in the twisties at 5, 6, or 7,000 RPM up HILLS and MOUNTAINS....motors even when water cooled can heat up, and they DO.
I've had quite a few water cooled bikes that warm up under hard riding in HOT weather, so a temp guage would come in handy.

BTW.......yes I meant 100 "F" I live in the states........
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Vlad on May 03, 2008, 12:18:52 AM
Maybe not in TORONTO CANADA where you live, but here in Southern Califorina where it can be over 100 degrees and you can be riding HARD in the twisties at 5, 6, or 7,000 RPM up HILLS and MOUNTAINS....motors even when water cooled can heat up, and they DO.
I've had quite a few water cooled bikes that warm up under hard riding in HOT weather, so a temp guage would come in handy.

BTW.......yes I meant 100 "F" I live in the states........


Would you mind explaining what "heat up" and "warm up" means in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA? Do your engines seize, cook oil, boil coolant, etc. often there? What do you do to prevent overheating?

BTW, be thankful you don't have problems with moose hatcheries like this guy  :lol: http://www.theweebsite.com/tempus/wallpaper.html (http://www.theweebsite.com/tempus/wallpaper.html)
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: Bandit1250 on May 03, 2008, 12:49:10 AM
Quote
Would you mind explaining what "heat up" and "warm up" means in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA? Do your engines seize, cook oil, boil coolant, etc. often there? What do you do to prevent overheating?

BTW, be thankful you don't have problems with moose hatcheries like this guy  :lol: http://www.theweebsite.com/tempus/wallpaper.html (http://www.theweebsite.com/tempus/wallpaper.html)

In this context when I refer to "Warm up" or "Heat up" I mean running HOT but not overheating yet...say 230/240 "F" or so.......
My point Vlad is that a oil temp guage would come in handy, to help keep you AWARE of how hot your engine is running in ANY given circumstance and when you're riding in 100 degree "F" heat or MORE as you can in many desert/arrid areas of Southern California/Arizona/New Mexico and MOST of Central California in July through September....it can help you keep from overheating by keeping you AWARE, what do you have against temp guages anyway? Do you have stock in Idiot lights?? :stickpoke: :bandit:

BTW....Do you think you have to actually BOIL/FRY your engine to damage it or shorten it's life? I bet running it extremely HOT and not specifically BOILING it helps to shorten it's life....especially head gaskets......heat is an engines main enemy as you may know.

Come out to So Cal sometime in August or September...rent a sportbike and I'll give you a nice HOT tour in the mountains and hills....you'll see what I mean!  :bigok:
Title: Re: Oil temp gauge?
Post by: LowRyter on May 03, 2008, 12:00:07 PM


It is a nice bling-thing....  maybe too tempting though.  I've cleaned up the OEM filler cap and stashed it under the seat in case it gets swiped - experience has taught me that a revving B-12 motor without a filler cap is just a 100hp atomizer and will make a huge mess.   :duh:  (don't ask...  :annoy:)


been there, done that