Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Oil Pressure Gauge

Has anyone hooked up on oil pressure gauge and if so what kind of oil pressure should these things have?

Thanks Skip

yes there are abunch on here who have, we currently have 2 options. i am sure those who own them will chime in

Frank

I made my own and it runs about 80 PSI once warm and at dead idle about 40 but jumps right up as soon as throttle is applied.

Here's teh one many of us use from Bonneville Performance.com

Rather than an oil line going straight to the gauge, has anyone installed a sending unit with a wire going to a gauge instead?

Not that I know of but I see no reason why you couldn't. I don't like the one from New Bonneville. Oil line is too long and since it is in the serring the line has to flex.Too much chance for a possible failure and thats one place you don't want one! The Bonneville performance one is OK but I don't like the mounting point and costs too much. The one I made cost me about $60 and in my opinion looks better. Its very similar to BP just mounted differently.I even used a liquid filled gauge and stainless line with chrome fittings.

Do you have pictures of the set up and what about a part number. I would love to get one and $60 sounds good.

Have you notice that most accesories for our bikes are always over $100.00

yes that is why I make so many. I could probably hook you up with the part numbers I used.I made the mounting bracket myself out of stainless and polished it. The snag is I have a small machine shop here and made the banjo bolt.The fitting the pressure gauge comes off of is not a common thickness so a normal double banjo bolt won't work. I don't know if BP or Newbonneville will sell you just the banjo or if you can make it or know someone who can.

I don't have any pix but I could take some. Like I said it is very similar to BP. If you look at thiers and either copy it or as I did change the mounting point it wasn't hard to do.

I disagree. The one from Bonneville Performance is a very well put together, easy to install, and comes with excellent instructions. Considering I don't have a machine shop (or own a tow company) and don't have the luxury of making my own parts, this gauge is very reasonably priced.

Oil line too long? How do you figure? I don't have a camera but mine is running exactly like this pic from the BP site:



There's no flex in this line at all. The line (which is stainless steel) is another very well made piece.

What's wrong with the mounting? I think the above mount looks great!

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Its very similar to BP

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Now I really want to see some pics of your gauge.

It's also $150!!!!!! and I didn't like the placement so I used a chrome banjo with AN3 , braided break line with AN3 , AN3 to pipe adapter chrome ,pipe elbow chrome , chrome oil filled gauge , all from J&P Cycles and J&P sells everything you see in the BP pic for LESS. I made the stainless banjo bolt and stainless bracket but mounted it where I wanted it and it cost me about $60 saving me $90 and I like mine better. I never said anything was wrong with the BP set up except it is way over priced and I don't like the gauge position.

I would have to agree. The Bonneville Performance looks and works like it is worth twice what it costs.

You don't get it...I used the SAME parts just got them for much less and made my own bracket to place it where I wanted it and didn't use the grooved shroud that I can also get from J&P but used a fully chrome liquid filled gauge. and saved $90! Even if I liked the way they made thiers I still would have bought my own stuff and made it exactly like what they did and save $90!!!

I'm running a prototype of Brents on my bike. Yes, it does flex with the steering, but the total arc of the steering head can't be much more than 90 deg, so 45 deg each way.... and because the line is so long, that bend is soaked up by probably a foot of the line, so there is not severe bending going on. I have the BP one also, and honestly still haven't decided which to keep on there. I am/was running Brent's as a favor to him to sort of smoke test it, give feedback etc. Especially on the install.

I like the position of Brents just the line worried me a little and again price. I didn't say I didn't understand the price I siomply said why when it can be done for much less. I also said I have a small machine shop before hand. The stainless I had laying around the bolt I made from a 7/16 stainless bolt on my lathe that was why I said I didn't know if he could get just that from one of the guys since a normal double banjo won't work proporly. And I also am not saying if you can't make one then don't buy one. the bracket can be made with a drill , jigsaw , and vise. Not what I used but it would work. I would want an oil pressure gauge I think it is probably the most important gauge on the bike. If I couldn't make one I would spend the $150 so don't take this as an attack. I am just trying to help the people who can make one. I gave ezcue the part numbers so he could do it.
As for the question as what I would charge. If I did the polished stainless bracket. and polished it by hand like I did. Way more than $150.

No I wouldn't ever say $60. That is just parts cost alone!!!!
And OK if you put it that way $150 is a bargain.

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I gave ezcue the part numbers so he could do it.

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And I am in process on my own set up...just all that work stuff getting in the way for now. It may be after the GA Rally before I get the Banjo bolt turned. Thanks, Ian

anytime.

How about giving all of us the part numbers?

I don't understand everyone jumping on me.

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I don't understand everyone jumping on me. I help when I can. I try and suggest alternatives that save money and I get crap for it.

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You must be kidding. I do not see ONE post here of anyone jumping on you. Disagreeing with you yes. Jumping? Hardly....

Perhaps your suggested alternatives should not be prefaced with remarks on how bad the vendors products are? How about:

"Here's a suggestion for an alternative....." and leave the vendors out if it?

And yes, I would like to see the part numbers. How about some pics?

I didn't say the products were bad anywhere and maybe I am a little over sensative at the moment. Any way I can do both but have to take the pix I only have pix of the bracket. Only thing I said in that respect was I wasn't sure about the twisting of the oil line on Brents gauge.Bend something back and forth enough times and it breaks was my thinking. I never said anything bad about BP other than price. And even at that the point you made was very valid that if you can't make the parts then yes it is worth the money. That and I didn't like the placement but that is personal preference not a quality thing. I am sure some guys would like it there.

here are some shots of the bracket. It takes place of the wire retainer between the timing cover and sprocket cover and the tab bends outward.
The placement is very easy to see and makes adding oil easier.

those are 2 of the brackets I have made for the oil pressure gauge. Time and date are wrong on the camera they were taken last spring sometime during the day.

Lonzo, to answer your question I once used a wired sending unit and oil guage on my '82 Sporster. Just be sure to use the same make oil guage and sending unit.....Angelis

See Ian, this is why we need to choose our words wisely. You didn't think you were insulting anyone, but maybe they percieved it that way, and then "sparkplug" thought he was just making observations but you took it as jumping on you... This whole internet thing is very convenient, but it has its perils too! I'm just saying we all need to be sensitive if we want to be percieved how we intend to be percieved.

I understand that I think my nerves were just raw from all the hoopla. I reread it and normally wouldn't have taken it the way I did.the way he was asking for part number seemed to me to be saying he didn't believe I had done it. I had no problem with sharing. Like I said above I had given the part numbers to someone else who had asked.

That's cool. I honestly think we should all re-read our own stuff before we post sometimes!

Ian, that is some cool stuff brother!

Ride Safe.

Ryan

Thanx. Rough on the hands doing by hand though!!

Regarding the repeated movement of the oil pressure line bear in mind that the line is plumbed through the center of the head stock as Benny correctly stated. Very little lateral movement occurs when turning. The line is braided stainless steel and covered in a vinyl sleeve. Exactly like the brake lines that carry much more pressure. I believe the front and rear brake lines must flex and travel more distace due to their respective mounting locations than the oil pressure line does. Just mo.

good point. They do flex more.

Just a really strange question. Since I'm mechanically challenged, what is the reasoning behind the oil pressure gauge? Seems to me if you check your oil and maintain the correct level everything should be alright. Is this one of those things that you don't really need but it looks good?

you could have an internal problem that could cause a drop in oil pressure and damage the bike while still haveing the proper fluid level

Frank

Tells you if you are losing oil pressure, unlike a light that illuminates after it is too late. The oil pump gears are plastic and can strip. Doesn't do any good to be full of oil if its not being pumped.

even full of oil your pump can fail or pick up become clogged. By the time the light lets you know it's too late. If you see a drop in pressure you know you need to find the problem before you damage the engine. If your idot light comes on (if you can even see the anemic light) you know by the loud knocking in the engine that you need to fix something.

Seems to me that the placement of all the op gauges I have seen are where they are hard to see. You would have to look way down to see it. Just as likely to miss a drop in pressure until to late. just like the dash mounted bulb.

I watch mine as well as the temp. And as far as hard to see the one Brent makes is right infront of your face. But BPs mounting or mine are easy to see too. Just a quick glance down.