How did you mount your oil pressure gauge???

[unionthug]

So I was cleaning up the garage after getting the union thug super tt mostly complete and I found an extra oil pressure gauge laying around... (this is how most of my projects start)

I plummed it from the oil pressure switch location with a standard 36" hydraulic hose but I am struggling with where to mount the gauge and how. There isn't a lot out there on the subject and I cannot find a standard after market gauge cup or mount specific to a Buell.

I have 36" of flexible line from the front of the engine and am not completely sold on where it needs to live. I have enough slack to mount it on either side of the bars or all the way back to the transmission.

Where did you put your oil pressure gauge? Whose cup or mount did you use?

[unionthug]

Nobody :p

[jimijeans]

Oh alright I'll share! Thats What BUELLERS do. I will try to explain so Anyone can figure it out. I have had to make mine from scratch so here goes. Use a oil line Braided is best. Remove the oil sending unit and get the proper fittings. Mine came from Napa and O'Rileys.
Take your oil sending unit with you AND the Line and Gauge.THIS WAY you can TEST FIT & Match up threads. A Brass [TEE] Female Threads on the TEE all around, make sure to match the [OIL Sender], to screw in on the Orignal Oil Pumps Female Threads you removed it from.
The Tee needs A [Brass Nipple about 1/2incn long] to put up in the oil pump You can preassemble only the nipple in the tee [Blue Locktite] only. This way you can use a [45 male to female] and put the oil sender on the back side slightly at an angle down in the 45 and still plug it in so no code OR light comes on.[NOTE] you have to put Tee in first on last tightening of TEE then put the 45 in SNUG angled down then Oil sender also & plug in.
Finish tightening about a HALF Turn Then you can put in the Oil line fitting in the TEE towards the front and Hook up the Oil line to The Guage. BE Careful and hold Against each fitting so as Not to Break off where the Fitting goes into the oil senders Orignal Threads.
The Right Side Scoop I Extended the Stainless (Allen Bolt)out at the Top of the Ulysses Comfort Kit Scoop.I Found That Bolt & misc., at [ACE Hdwr]. Used a Hard flat THIN Washer FOR outside of Gauge Clamp & Soft Faucet Washer Against Scoop plastic there for vibration. I also Bought the Orignal Style Wrap around ONE Hole Clamp in Chrome to hold the Guage.MILLERS CUSTOM Of Daytona for the Holder,Standard H/D Stuff.
We travel down there several times a year to Daytona. The Soft Washer Goes inbetween the Scoop Housing and the Guage Holder.
I ran the line tight around the front of Oil Filter & front of the Engine and up inbetween the push rod covers up to the Scoop inside close to the top of the scoop inside it and out to the Guage. I used a 90 off the back of the Guage so as to keep it nice. This is just AN [idea] to get you in the right direction. IT Seems like a lot of trouble but once Done, you will be glad you did it.
I did mine over 2 1/2 years ago hasn't leaked yet. It's hidden Quite nicely. check on it rubbing now and then. Long Post but in case someone else wanted to it's here for them. You can usually find this kind of kit at a local Speed Shop but will still need a few materials. I'll take some pictures when the work slows down here in the shop.Ride Safe. *Jimi[smirk][up]

[unionthug]

Long story short you hid yours(?) I originally thought I wanted to see the gauge but after the initial install I am not so sure. The thing acts more like a tach - which if you are driving an old Ford is cool but a little scary to me on a bike. I see 25 at idle cold and the little gauge is buried at 6000.

A photo would be awesome. Thanks!

[oh9bolt]

AL4aQuC1wfE

Go to the :45 mark.

Make a bracket to attach to the bars.

[jimijeans]

Yes I hid almost all of it, But the Actual Gauges and a little bit of the Oil Line up to where it mounts right above the top area of each Scoop Right and Left. I have another Mod for my 08XB12R. The signals that come off the Handle bars on the Wrecked 1200 Sportster here in the shop I've installed new ones all around. Plus Exhaust & Hand controls, Handle bars Etc.., and other Necessary parts guy was lucky. Customer Picked out Upgrades from Harley.Going to use the outer chrome cover for the gauges to set inside I just looked at them sitting on the work bench and HEY!,got some figuring to do to get 1 1/2inch gauge inside the Chrome signal housings tight almost fits perfect. I may Black those covers out. Not sure till I get to it. October Fest is upon us got lots of work for everyone else right now.I'll post about it when I can.Sounds like you have the hang of it.*Jimi[up]:D

[jimijeans]

Wow 0h9bolt, I haven' seen that Vid in a while, doesn't it look good and function is everything.Since mine are XB12R Firebolts 08 and 09 I got somewhat creative. Those are 2 inch mine are 1 1/2 and waterproofed. If you look at the Video you posted mine are right above the Left and Right Scoops. Hand made the Brackets out of Alum., and bolts are Stainless. The Buells can be very cool machines as well as the mods that make them our own.*Jimi;)

[oh9bolt]

That guy's bike is amazing I followed his bike on buelletinboard since before I had my bolt

[unionthug]

For what it is worth I have decided to mount it down low next to the oil cooler.

[oh9bolt]

Pics or it didn't happen. :D

[unionthug]

I had to buy a new shorter line, it's on the way. I had intended to mount it up on the bars or near the tach but couldn't find a suitable pod / cup.

I also opted for a 100 psi oil pressure gauge as the one I started with was a 0-60 and with each twist of the wrist went way past 60.

It should be here later this week and I will find a place to mount it down low and take a photo.

[unionthug]

Not to tease but I just got the gauge mounted. I found a guy in Arizona on fleabay that had a mice kit off a 79-84 Evo. The kit included a 12" steel braided line from Russell, an AN to 1/8 NP male an AN to 1/8 NP female and an OK quality oil filled guage which I ended up not using (it was 13 psi off).

The install was stupid easy. I simply paralleled the oil cooler lines and ran the oil pressure line through the opening just to the inside of the oil cooler. I would have preferred the bezel and mount not be chrome but it is easier to read.

The gauge mounts in a aluminum bezel via a set screw and a tab that I ran one of the oil cooler mount bolts through. The gauge is visible from the left side of the bike from any angle or distance you can see the back of the oil cooler. It's too dark to take photos of it installed tonight but I will tomorrow.


http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss333/customdeuce/oilpressure1.jpg


http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss333/customdeuce/DSCN7571.jpg

[unionthug]

Done... It was a compromise but I like the way it turned out.


http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss333/customdeuce/DSCN7589.jpg
http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss333/customdeuce/DSCN7590-1.jpg

http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss333/customdeuce/DSCN7596.jpg
http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss333/customdeuce/DSCN7595.jpg
http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss333/customdeuce/DSCN7593-1.jpg

[oh9bolt]

[up]

[Loki]

Is there a real point in having one tho? It looks awesome.

[gtp3800]

Is there a real point in having one tho? It looks awesome.

yea I dont know why I would need it. What are the benefits of having it?

[unionthug]

Oil is the life blood of your engine, I don't mean to be glib but if you have to ask you might not understand. Oil pressure and the presence (or absence) of it is a barometer of what is happening inside your engine. If that doesn't matter to you, you don't need it.

Clearly if it were in plain sight and you lost pressure you might save your engine by shutting down before serious damage was done. Without it in view it serves as an indicator of what is going on inside your engine over time.

[wutend007]

What was the length of the line? an earler post said 12" but the pict showes 15". I went out to measure and 15' looks a bit long.

[thrstrmech]

that looks awesome, nice and clean like it should have always been there[up][up][up]

[jimijeans]

Great job Union. looks good and Functional always need Guages to make sure theses fine machines work and keep riding as long as possible.It is better to have some slack in a line for Vibration than to have it too tight.Ride Safe.*Jimi[cool]

[Tork]

Union,

Nice install.

Questions:
1. What pressure are you seeing at idle and when revved now that you've installed the 0-100 psi gauge?
2. What did you do with the stock oil pressure sending unit/sensor? It looks like you're no longer using it. Doesn't this cause your CEL to come on like Jimi mentioned?
3. Who makes/sells that gauge and bracket? I see lots of vendors for gauges, but not for a large selection of brackets (at least not THAT one separately).

[unionthug]

Tork,

I removed the oil pressure switch completely. I have done this mod on many bikes (this Buell, several HD's and metrics)and never had a CEL issue. The switch is just a switch which completes a circut in the absence of pressure.

I found the kit on ebay the vendor was desertsuncycles and the total cost was $55. for everything shown. The application is a HD 84-99 EVO (80-84" V-Twin.

This bracket woud otherwise mount to one of the HD's rocker box bolts. It just so happened to work near the oil cooler too. As noted I did not use the oil pressure gauge with the kit. After installing it I found it was innacurate (you get what you pay for) but really, all oil pressure gauges are to some degree inaccusate, but this one was 13 psi low. I went back to the Arlen Ness gauge which was a 0-60 scale and only 3 pounds low. (I tested both using compressed air at a known value).

Oil pressure cold on my bike is 28 (32 corrected)at idle buried at 7000. Hot I have 18-20 (21-23 corrected) pounds at idle and 40 hot which is why I went back to the 0-60 pound scale.

Arlen Ness sells a kit like this for $189. They sell the parts separately as well.

[wutend007]

I liked the idea of mounting by the oil cooler but made my own line using som fittings from Earls and braided line I had left over from a NOS installon another bike. Used a tee at the block so to keep the sender in the system.

[unionthug]

Home made is always best but always time consuming. (Un)fortunatelyI work 1/2 days (the first half or the second half- my boss doesn't care which 12 to 14 hours I work) so I opted for a pre made kit.

M

[user_deleted]

unionthug: that's some fine looking fabrication work you did there. hats off to ya. on another note, if i ever decide to mount one of these new-fangled gauges on my uly or lightning i'm mounting the mother right next to my "support your local Hells Angels Chapter" sticker.
:D

[lexhere27]

anyone know unionthug? wondering if he could put the pictures back up