Warmup

[aslam]

Speaking of warmup...  is there a way to get some reading on the engine temperature?  This would give me an adequate idea of how hot the bike is running in general and whether not it is fully warmed up when starting.

Has anyone added some temp gauge to their bike?  Details on the mod?

ASLAM.

[scratch]

I know you can get them for Harleys and Triumphs. You might be able to get them for the older air-cooled Japanese fours. Most likely, the big GS1150 which was usually bored out for drag racing. Maybe a drag racing forum? oh, what I'm thinking about is the oil temp guages. Or was it oil press. guages... :dunno:

[aslam]

I saw in the service manual you can get the oil pressure from the recess inside the generator cover.  But I really wouldn't have any use for an oil pressure gauge.

ASLAM.

[scratch]

Unfortuneately, almost all air-cooled bikes wont have temp guages, either built-in or available add-ons; you may have to get a contact temp guage from a specialty tool company such as Snap-On, MAC, Matco. Hm, now I'm curious...I may just have to search one of their websites...

[Jace009]

craftsman and rayotech make a temp gun that has a laser sight. you probably want to use it and get the laser on the end of the sparkplug/head. [these are just hand held "tools"]

[The Buddha]

OK The right side of the motor has a chrome bolt under the round ignition cover. That is the main oil galley plug. Take it out, drill it and tap it for a banjo bolt, then run a steel braided line to a guage. There are guages avilable for temp and pressure or either or both. That guage just needs to be mounted somewhere near the motor. I had a pressure guage and it worked great. The dismal reading (under 5 psi) at idle once hot gve me quite a few heart attacks so I never made one for the 89, and sold the 90 that I did it on.
There is also the dip stick thermometer that you remove the stick from the oil filler cap and drill it and tap it for a thermometer, but not sure if it will have immersion at speeds to read. That is common in europe so one of them could tell you.
Cool.
Srinath.