comments on installing oil pressure gauge

I'd like to hear your comments on running or not running an oil pressure gauge. That's pretty much it! :!:
Here is the Old Britts page for their gauge kit: http://www.oldbritts.com/38_240010.html . Other vendors that sell them?
Thanks!
Kurt

Kurt,

I just installed one on my bike a couple of weeks ago. Dave Carter (of Altoona Carter fame) made it for me from scratch. He simply made a block that bolts in place of one of the rocker spindle covers, drilled and threaded it for a stainless hose, then made a bracket from aluminum plate for the gauge. The gauge is a liquid filled oil pressure gauge available from auto parts stores. Total cost was around $60.00. It's really a nice looking setup.

I like having an oil pressure gauge as I've heard so much about oil starvation at high RPM's and have seen it on the race track. I am also running an anti-sump valve (don't start on me) and want to know if something goes awry with it. I will tell you that it will worry you a bit though. I found that when started cold, I get around 40 psi (as measured at the rocker spindle). As the engine warms up the pressure drops. On my way back from installing the gauge, about 1.75 hours away I found that pressure at RPM dropped to about 20 - 25 and at idle around 5 psi as I got an hour into the trip or so.

The only downside is that I find myself watching the gauge too much. That will probably fade with time, but it certainly is interesting so far.

Norbsa supplied this one to me a couple of years back, offers peace of mind and doesnt look out of place in my opinion

I think it will be better to install a mano-contact to a simple red light... oil pressure when warm can really looks scary!
Philippe

I ran one a few years back when the bike was a Fastback with a BMW R90S 1/4 fairing. (Had to put something in those dash holes) And I observed the same thing as Steve did: 40 p.s.i. cold, 25 p.s.i. hot and dropping down into single digits when hot idling. When I made it back into a Roadster again, the guage went with the fairing and I never saw the need to mount another. If your oil pressure gets too low (worn bearings) your motor will let you know with audible protest.

I installed the gauge from old britts and it works great. The only problem was that all the fluid in the gauge leaked out. still seems to work fine but now it's not fluid filled. I installed it by their instruction sheet and made sure not to let in turn in the aluminum housing but it still leaked clear oil down the front fender. Oil pressure seems to hold between 40 to 45 pounds cold or hot. Did not seem to drop after it heated up.

I think it will be better to install a mano-contact to a simple red light... oil pressure when warm can really looks scary!
Philippe
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I agree with Philippe, i've had a car-type oil pressure sender unit and a light on my 850 for 30 years, much better than having a full pressure oil-line floating around!
Dave.

I have an Oldbritts oil pressure gauge fitted. What I have found interesting is that on mine, sustained high speed cruising does drop my oil pressure below the 10psi per 1,000 rpm, and when it gets to about 30 psi @4000rpm, I back off for 5 miles or so and up goes the pressure again, as the engine is able to get rid of the excessive heat, and the knock on effects to the oil through not working so hard.

In all probability, had I not known that the pressure had dropped and I had continued, probably no harm would have come to my engine, but it has made me aware that you can get your oil very hot.

I also have lost all of the damping fluid from the gauge (glycerol I think). I must have knocked the rubber bung when it twisted in its housing as the connections were tightened, but it works fine with no oscillating of the needle.

Oil cooler next maybe?

This is what mine looks like as mounted:



I like having a gauge whether is is accurate or not it is always relative. I worked on my oil pump to tighten up its clearances and, if the gauge is to be believed, it shows a good 60psi on start-up, settles into low 40s psi once warmed, will drop to low 20s at idle. After an extended cruise at 70+ then going right into city traffic I can see 10-15 psi at idle; again all relative as this gauge was not speced for Space Shuttle duty.


When I ride I scan, the primary goal is watch for car dirvers that might kill me, but I have plenty of time to check speed (very relative) oil pressure and my favorite, the directional that is left on (helps you get killed). I find that I am guilty of leaving a directional on about 3 times a year... I make this scan about every 25-30 seconds. And, if I ride with others I always make a very big deal about directional lights that are left on, so it ends up be self-policing.

Anyway, I could (now) do without my oil pressure gauge---I trust my engine build, but I like the way it makes up the distance between the tach and speedo; it would sure alert me if I every started up the Norton without oil in the tank or if I lost an oil line or if my RGM anti-sump valve malfunctioned.

RS

daveparry said:

I think it will be better to install a mano-contact to a simple red light... oil pressure when warm can really looks scary!
Philippe
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I agree with Philippe, i've had a car-type oil pressure sender unit and a light on my 850 for 30 years, much better than having a full pressure oil-line floating around!
Dave.

Click to expand...

Dave, can you give a little more insight into where you mounted yours and how? Thanks.

Dave, can you give a little more insight into where you mounted yours and how? Thanks.
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I 'Tee 'ed it off where the rocker feed pipe comes from the crankcase,
Dave.

When a Norton was my only trasport I ran a guage, as mentioned you could see a drop when it qot quite hot and I usually backed off a bit. I just use my current bike for short runs and have not bothered fitting one.

I once thought about adding one but I decided to just leave it as is after I read the Norton owners club maint manual. They didn't recommend using an oil pressure gauge on a Commando because it would just scare you needlessly and adds a failure point.

The fact that oil pressure is low doesn't mean it's a problem. I personally know of several Detroit Diesel 8V71s that don't even register idle oil pressure on the gauge and whose low pressure alarms sound constantly at idle...and they've been doing that for as long as the owners remember and have over 10,000 operating hours. Many of these engines idle at around 5PSI of oil pressure (the book calls for 15) with no ill effect at all.

I don't personally see any benefit to adding a gauge but obviously that opinion's not shared by everyone.

Aaron from NZ had a nice setup post45034.html?hilit=azza73#p45034

He used a gauge from Mini which is a Smith's gauge so it looks original. Not bad. Been considering it if I can find a reasonable priced Mini gauge. A replacement new one is out of sight.

Dave
69S

Sorry for replying to an old post, but I found an inexpensive way to mount a gauge on my 74 Commando. I used a standard small auto gauge that I had leftover. Since I just replaced the rocker feed lines with the recommended 1/4" OD air brake hose, I simply split the line between the two rockers and made a Tee - basically a 1/4 x 1/4 x 1/8. I fabricated a gauge enclosure from some anodized metal water bottle and mounted it between my tach and speedo. It is working great.

69austinamerica said:

Sorry for replying to an old post, but I found an inexpensive way to mount a gauge on my 74 Commando. I used a standard small auto gauge that I had leftover. Since I just replaced the rocker feed lines with the recommended 1/4" OD air brake hose, I simply split the line between the two rockers and made a Tee - basically a 1/4 x 1/4 x 1/8. I fabricated a gauge enclosure from some anodized metal water bottle and mounted it between my tach and speedo. It is working great.

Click to expand...

Hi, pictures please... :idea:

steven wardlaw said:

I installed the gauge from old britts and it works great. The only problem was that all the fluid in the gauge leaked out. still seems to work fine but now it's not fluid filled. I installed it by their instruction sheet and made sure not to let in turn in the aluminum housing but it still leaked clear oil down the front fender. Oil pressure seems to hold between 40 to 45 pounds cold or hot. Did not seem to drop after it heated up.

Click to expand...

Don't know where you live but I can't imagine full oil pressure on a 90 plus degree day with a warm motor.