Norton 850 Commando oil pressure gauge

Just logged on site with brand new email address. Been a while anyhow. Have, just lately had concerns over my aluminum anti sump valve, on my 73 850 Commando. After reading several posts against them, got me to pondering a change.(Been installed for 7 or so years, no issue)
Then I thought about replacing (for peace of mind ) with a on/off ball type valve. I'm somewhat (ADD) and not worried about forgetting to open before ride.
Also, considering (much more expensive) a oil pressure gauge. Old Britts has a basic set up, appears pretty nice, but, not cheap. It mounts to Hollow tube through trees in front, and leaving sump alone?????
Any suggestions would be great!! If anyone has used old Britts gauge, or another that they like, let me know. Thanks Robert TN

Don Pender in the Philippines has a new OP warning light kit, pretty straightforward.
Here's the thread. I have a gauge and his warning light and a wet-sump valve similar to yours, wd not consider keeping the valve without one or the other.
https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/oil-pressure-sensor.21889/

Robert Shaw said:

Just logged on site with brand new email address. Been a while anyhow. Have, just lately had concerns over my aluminum anti sump valve, on my 73 850 Commando. After reading several posts against them, got me to pondering a change.(Been installed for 7 or so years, no issue)
Then I thought about replacing (for peace of mind ) with a on/off ball type valve. I'm somewhat (ADD) and not worried about forgetting to open before ride.
Also, considering (much more expensive) a oil pressure gauge. Old Britts has a basic set up, appears pretty nice, but, not cheap. It mounts to Hollow tube through trees in front, and leaving sump alone?????
Any suggestions would be great!! If anyone has used old Britts gauge, or another that they like, let me know. Thanks Robert TN

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So you want to go from a probably will fail to a damn sure will fail. Fine by me.

There have been volumes posted about this issue. You need to do some research.

Hi, out there
Throw these bl.... Valves over the neighbours fence! For a Oil Pressure Gauge visit: triplesunlimited.com Got mine there, based in Greece, worldwide shipping no Problem.

I am a fan of the Don Pended OP light kit without a doubt++. I also have removed the anti-wet sump valve and
installed the Jim Comstock sump reed breather. I had the Old Brits oil pressure gauge but couldn't get it to
stop leaking oil at it's connection at the bottom of the triple trees, so I removed it and sold it. Thought it was
kind of a funky way to plumb the oil line.

Just over 40 years ago a mate who worked at a Auto spare parts shop gave me a brand new 100 lb Smith oil pressure gauge still in the box I have the fittings to install it on my Norton have made a mounting plate to sit in between the orginal Smith gauges, after all this time I think I will put it on its a perfect match for the orginal gauges and its made in England.

Ashley

Marlin’s gauge and mounting bracket. I had to make up my own hose with AN-3 stainless and some fittings
Pete

FWIW - my 850 wet sumped badly when I purchased it in '05. The level in the tank would drop below the outlet fitting in 7-10 days or even less. But I resurfaced the oil pump per the Norton service manual - easy job with some wet/dry sandpaper and a sheet of glass. Most recently, last month, after the bike had been sitting for over two months without running, the oil level in the tank was still above the outlet fitting.

IMO, that is the only important consideration re wet sumping. If the oil level in the tank is below the outlet, there is no oil being delivered via the oil system until enough has been scavenged from the sump to raise the level in the tank above the outlet. I don't know how long that takes but however long it takes, it's not a good thing.

As has been noted, there is a TON of info - pro and con - about having some sort of check valve. IMO, if you re-surface the oil pump, the issue disappears unless the bike is not run for quite a long time. In that case, it seems to me that it's no big deal to start/run it for a few minutes every month or two. That's better for the components anyway than just letting it sit unused for 6-8 months or however long.

If my Commando has been sitting for a long time - it lives in Mexico and we are away from there for up to 5-6 months at a time - I check the oil tank and if the oil is above the outlet (after 5-6 months it won't be), I'll start it. If not, there are two options - drain the oil from the sump and add back to the tank (PITA) or add oil to the tank until it's just above the outlet and start the bike. After it's been running a while shut it off and pull the excess oil from the tank with a suction gun.

I have read stories of excess oil in the sump causing seals to fail but I have been doing the above for 10 years and have never seen that occur. Can't see how it can unless the crankcase breather is totally blocked.

Never felt the need for an oil pressure gauge but certainly can't argue against adding one!

Hi , should be easy to make any kit by using venhill double banjo BSF and their own s/s PVC covered braided line , another line going to the aftermarket gauge ( Marlin, Stack , Smiths or VDO) , just noticed that the Stack one in Bar have a M10 fine thread so venhil could supply as the adapter , the whole lot should be cheaper than the already made one ........?

Well, some people are almost angrily emphatic about having an on/off ball valve in the oil feed line to the motor.
I have had the same one in place for 23 years now and have never forgotten to turn it to on.
If turn it to off only if I know I am not going to ride the bike for more than three days or so.
When I do turn it off I run some twine from the valve lever up to and on top of the tank bag, impossible to miss and not remember to turn on.

Not me, but a 2ft long bright red ‘Remove Before Flight’ streamer attached to the tap doesn’t help some people.

...I think the only way is with an electrical interlock... but we’ve covered this umpteen times already.

1up3down said:

Well, some people are almost angrily emphatic about having an on/off ball valve in the oil feed line to the motor.
I have had the same one in place for 23 years now and have never forgotten to turn it to on.
If turn it to off only if I know I am not going to ride the bike for more than three days or so.
When I do turn it off I run some twine from the valve lever up to and on top of the tank bag, impossible to miss and not remember to turn on.

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Thanks very much. I'm in the same camp as you. Just leave a friendly reminder. I guess I should consider myself lucky, 7 years with anti sump valve in place, no problems. Like your idea a lot. Tks again

1up3down said:

When I do turn it off I run some twine from the valve lever up to and on top of the tank bag, impossible to miss and not remember to turn on.

Click to expand...

Good idea. I only have a magnet on the gas tank that says: Oil!

The PO installed the valve long ago and even though I always check before starting, I can't stop myself from checking it while riding - paranoid!