Temp sensor for oil

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george48pan
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Temp sensor for oil

#1

Post by george48pan »

I have a pan in a swing arm frame. It has a stock size horse shoe oil tank with a side fill tube. I have a temp gauge that plugs the tube. The temp gauge has a 1/8" dia X 3 3/4" long rod that senses the oil temp. This is from a tank with a spin on filter in the side of the tank.

My problem is the sensing rod hits the inside of the tank before the cap plugs the hole.

Will the sensing rod be damaged if I bend the rod?

If it does then I will just plug the fill tube with another cap.

I am only interested in seeing the oil temp when I am on a long run.
1950Panhead
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Re: Temp sensor for oil

#2

Post by 1950Panhead »

My problem is the sensing rod hits the inside of the tank before the cap plugs the hole.
This must mean it was not designed for this tank.
If your life won't be ruined by wrecking the part bend the rod in the middle, my guess is it will still work.
Jerry
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Re: Temp sensor for oil

#3

Post by RUBONE »

Most of those temp gauges use a simple bi-metallic coil for the needle and all the rod does is transfer heat to the coil. It should not make any difference if you bend it slightly.
Robbie
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Re: Temp sensor for oil

#4

Post by Cotten »

George48Pan!

What should an oiltank temperature gauge tell you?
or,
What can an oiltank temperature gauge tell you?

I often wondered.

....Cotten
JR JOHNSON
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Re: Temp sensor for oil

#5

Post by JR JOHNSON »

hi,I've seen guys install sending units in the drain plug,with a electric gauge,but i think it's a waist of time.I've thought many years agothe same thing,than the heat temperature guns came out,never worried about the oil temp again,head temp,cyl temp i do in town,remember when the shovel head had headtemp gauges on the baggers?they took them off,because people freaked out seeing how hot they ran...............with respect..........JR
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Re: Temp sensor for oil

#6

Post by RUBONE »

,remember when the shovel head had headtemp gauges on the baggers?
I bought as new '80 FLT when I was working for the dealer. Put a bunch of accessories on it including a gauge kit! I regularly saw over 400 degrees on the head temp! And what does that tell you?? only that it is 400 degrees! What did it mean?? Absolutely nothing!
Like a modern bike with a GPS! If you don't know where you are it still isn't going to help!
Robbie
george48pan
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Re: Temp sensor for oil

#7

Post by george48pan »

Thank you for the feed back. Especially from 1950 Panhead and Rubone.

In reply to Cotten's question, an oil tank temperature gauge should and can tell you what the oil temperature is inside the oil tank. That is it's purpose. It doesn't tell you what the motor temperature is. It is not going to be a completely accurate reading. Just a reference to supplement how my pan is feeling.

I have had one bike since 1978. For quite a few years I have put at least 3500 miles on it per year. I know my pan. I check for changes in oil temperature when I am stuck in traffic or riding for 6 hours at a time on a highway. Since I know my bike, I use the gauge along with how my bike feels or reacts with conditions.

This also relates to Rubone's response about "knowing where you are" with a gps.
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Re: Temp sensor for oil

#8

Post by Cotten »

George48Pan!

Do you mean feeling fully warmed-up on short hops, or in cold weather?

Water in the oil is certainly a concern.

....Cotten
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