Mounting a Voltage Gauge on a bolt?

[FlaXB9R]

Just curious if anyone has ever mounted a voltage gauge on there bolt or any Buell for that matter.

I thought about this the other day. I know people including myself have been stranded due to charging issues. I was just thinking it would be nice to monitor if it was charging or not to possibly catch the problem before completely stranded.

I figured it wouldn't be hard to wire it in but mounting it would be a different story. It would have to be visable but also would like it to be discrete and not look like ****.


Any thoughts, opinions, or concerns?

 

[Pagano]

I've put 'em under the seats for the ones without too many issues (never on a Buell), more of a glance-to-make-sure kinda thing, and on the handlebars or on the side, wherever, for the more ancient, er, vintage machines. It depends, if you get a led bar type or gauge-face, lots of variables there. It pretty much comes down to personal preference. Dremel-ing out a slot/hole on the air-box cover night be a good spot.

 

[djohnk]

Here's the one I used after some advice from this forum. Very simple to install you just drill a 1/4" hole somewhere (on the XB's most put it behind the dummy light panel), and pop it in. For one little LED it sure provides a lot of information on your charging status.

signal dynamics volt meter

 

[buellxb9rs]

I have an a/f gauge that I mounted in my bolt at the handle bars. I'm looking to get a different top triple so I can mount gauges better

 

[GAXB9R]

Something like this wouldn't look bad next to the gauge cluster.

Link

 

[FlaXB9R]

Pics?


DJohn


I really like that.
Thanks

 

[sparky300]

Motogadget has a cool little setup (although pricey) I've thought about installing on mine

Twin Motorcycles has a stand-alone LED battery charge indicator that's pretty cool too

 

[Pagano]

That SDC single is nice! 1 light, 1 hole, cant go wrong.

 

[CoastieRider]

How to install Voltmeter;
Install

 

[MustangGuy]

I bought the one from americansportbike. com. It's pretty small. It has a progressive display that shows red, yellow and green LEDs from left to right depending upon the voltage. There are a few places you can easily fit on the gauge cluster. It secures with what appears to be automotive grade trim tape. It weighs almost nothing so I don't think the tape will be an issue. Installation was easy. I don't recall which wire I used but you just need to piggy back it to a switched wire. I also don't remember what I used for a ground but I'm no electric whiz and it didn't take me long to wire it. Of course, you'll need a multimeter. Good excuse to get one if you don't have one already - you can get a simple digital one for not much money. I'm not home at the moment but I'll snap a pic of it tonight or tomorrow if you're interested.

 

[FlaXB9R]

Thanks mustang and yes I'm interested in seeing it

 

[jimijeans]

And too think, I put some Chrome Guages oil and Volts from Stewart Warner on mine. Well partly chrome! One on each side. LiQuid Filled of course. I had to make the brackets out of some thin Aluminum and bent and polished accordingly. Mounted them one above the each Air Scoop, with paying attention to detail.
Get many complements on that, I still used the orignal sender too on the Oil unit so as not to get a sender light in my face all the time.The Oil unit is an LiQuid oil line for watching the oil pressure. The Volts is just electric. Have fun with that.*Jimi

 

[user_deleted]

the model that GAX is holding is nice to go with. i bought 3 of them on evilbay for $17 delivered to my door. easy to wire to any switched wire or device under fairing or flyscreen, easy to mount with 2-way tape or adhesive, small and light...and by God...if you ever went thru what i went thru 2 weeks ago with an over-charged and leaking battery during a ride you'll be damn glad you spent an eve to install one.

 

[user_deleted]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/18087623757...76&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWNX:IT&vxp=mtr

 

[Mark XB12r]

This is my next priority to do, was going to Carlisle bike fest yesterday and right before the turn into the gate, bammm dim lights, no gauges, and stalled out. coasted up on some guys driveway and now stranded. The owner was out front polishing his bike and was gracious enough to dig out his batt charger for me. Put it on the charger for an hour, pulled my headlight connector and headed to the house. I made it the 15 miles home just barely and now it looks like I need another regulator [sad] A voltage monitor is now a priority for me

 

[user_deleted]

good morning mark. glad you made it home safely but know you were "on edge" till you got there. is this your original regulator or are you replacing for 2nd time? just curious. i'm telling you son...an evening spent installing 1 of these little $5 units is the single best peace of mind items you can put on your buell.

 

[MustangGuy]

Hey FlaXB9R - Here's a pic of the volt gauge (or is it called a volt meter?) It gives a good indication of what's going on voltage-wise. I think my voltage regulator is "iffy", so I'm going to install a new one soon. Checking the voltage across the battery terminals it's averaging 12.62 at idle and 13.81 at about 2000 rpms. This translates to the red and orange dots lit up at idle then one or two of the green dots join them starting around 2000 rpms and usually stay lit when the bke is moving. It would be cool to have one that displays an actual number but I wanted something small, cheap and easy to read while I'm riding and this fit the bill. Let us know what you end up getting!

 

[user_deleted]

mustang: that's a nice looking piece. i think from the #'s you posted that your charging system is still in decent shape.

 

[GAXB9R]

Dammit Flax you gave me another reason to spend money[up]

 

[snrusnak]

What's up with the screw above the gauge cluster??

I like this idea...