Oil Temperature Dip Stick

[oldtimer]

Years ago I saw where some of the members had purchased an oil temperature dip stick for their Valks, doe anyone know if these are still available and if they are where they can be purchased? Thanks in advance....oldtimer.....

[tank_post142]

http://www.valkyrieblingandmore.com/oiltedipst.html

[oldtimer]

Tank....thank you very much, ordering as soon as I post this.......thanks again.....

[sandy]

TruTel (maybe Trutemp; geez I'm getting old) made them in 1 3/4" diameter and 2" diameter. I have the 2" model.

[98valk]

2" is the way to go.

http://www.teltru.com/p-441-kit-dk225-for-honda-valkyrie-includes-2-dial-gt225-adapter-and-o-rings.aspx

[Bugslayer]

Other than the size of the dial, what difference is there between the Tel-tru and the one from Valkyrie Bling? Is the quality the same?    I was looking for the dial size of one from Valkyrie Bling, but I didn't see it. Anyone know?

[98valk]

Other than the size of the dial, what difference is there between the Tel-tru and the one from Valkyrie Bling? Is the quality the same?    I was looking for the dial size of one from Valkyrie Bling, but I didn't see it. Anyone know?

there were only two avail at one time, one by another company, which a lot complained about and the Tel-tru never seen a complaint. that's all I know.

[indybobm]

Are there any advantages/disadvantages to one with a digital readout?

[Jess from VA]

I think Mike's is a Tel-Tru also (quite a mark down from the Mfr), but am not certain.  You could call or email him (I would).

I got mine from HDL, but when I looked just now, I only see one for Rune, and not for Valk.  For years, HDL sold two Tel-Trus for Valk;  1 1/2"(3/4"?) and 2" gauge faces.  I have one of each on the two Interstates.

The 2" is easier to read, but I don't wear bifocals to ride, and cannot see either of them clearly while riding at speed (can see the needle but not the tiny numbers).  Plus, the 2" just touches my Kury tranny cover on that side, and I have a tiny rub mark, which only shows when I pull the stick (no big deal). Of course, it is easy to read either one at a stop once the bike is up to temp, but cruising the superslab or other fast road with no stops is where you will most want to pay attention, in hot weather.

What I did on both, was to cut a sliver of electrical tape in an arrow shape and stick it on the gauge face at the 220 degree mark, the temp where you need to start paying attention (only ever over 220 a couple times).  With this, you may not be able to read the actual small temp numbers, but you have an easy benchmark to view while riding... so long as the needle is below your tape, you're good to go.  The tape washes off about once a year, and gets replaced.

Finally, you should use a small wrench or adjustable to snug the quad-side dipstick base (o-ring) to the threaded housing, and not grab/turn the gauge face/head itself as you can throw the temp adjustment off.  It snugs up just enough someone can't just unscrew it with their hand, and walk off with it while parked.

The teltru has an oil level line, but I always use the oe stick to check my oil level at oil changes.  I have never lost any oil in either bike for years between oil changes.

Jess from VA 

[Bugslayer]

I think Mike's is a Tel-Tru also (quite a mark down from the Mfr), but am not certain.  You could call or email him (I would).

Jess from VA 

Thanks Jess. I replied to your message over on the Valk Forum. I emailed Mike, so I'm just waiting for his reply.

[JC]

I just received mine from Valkyrie Bling, it is a Tel-tru, and I like it!! 

[Bugslayer]

I just received mine from Valkyrie Bling, it is a Tel-tru, and I like it!! 

Cool!
Mike just wrote back and said what you said. I'll be ordering mine tomorrow.
Thanks for the reply!

[Relax]

when the temp is high, will the temp read on the oil be about same as for the  cooling water?
My fan starts at close to 200 F and work until the ater is down to about 194 F   ( 100-90 C )
Is that what you read on the oil dip stick gauge too?

[RP#62]

I don't know if its the "original" one or not, but before the Tel Tru, was the Two Brother Racing temp gage.  I've had mine since '99.  Some had problems with them fogging up, but mine never has.  On a warm day in Phoenix on the freeway, once the temps have stabilized, my oil temp runs around 210°F and my coolant temp around 160-170°F.
-RP

[Jess from VA]

I don't know if its the "original" one or not, but before the Tel Tru, was the Two Brother Racing temp gage.  I've had mine since '99.  Some had problems with them fogging up, but mine never has.  On a warm day in Phoenix on the freeway, once the temps have stabilized, my oil temp runs around 210°F and my coolant temp around 160-170°F.
-RP

RP, doesn't a coolant temp gauge depend on where you put the sensor..... like before the water goes thru the radiator, or after it exits?   

[Madmike]

I don't know if its the "original" one or not, but before the Tel Tru, was the Two Brother Racing temp gage.  I've had mine since '99.  Some had problems with them fogging up, but mine never has.  On a warm day in Phoenix on the freeway, once the temps have stabilized, my oil temp runs around 210°F and my coolant temp around 160-170°F.
-RP

RP, doesn't a coolant temp gauge depend on where you put the sensor..... like before the water goes thru the radiator, or after it exits?   

you are correct,  typical installation on most engines is on cylinder head or near thermostat housing.  Different locations on a cooling system will give different temperatures - most shutdown systems that are monitoring for a maximum temperature will locate the temp  sensor at the back of the head as this is usually the warmest place, gage senders that are displaying a temperature for operator info are usually located near the thermostat housing to give an indication of what the thermostat is doing and what the blended coolant temp is exiting the engine.  Some more sophisticated systems that monitor and display different info may have more sensors/senders such as aftercooler temp, temp rise though oil cooler  etc. depending on what you want to monitor.  One thing to note is that these senders need to be immersed in liquid to give an accurate reading - if there is no coolant surrounding them they show cold not hot.

[Jess from VA]

That's what I thought Mike, thank you.

I thought about pursuing a water temp gauge before I got the oil temp dipstick. 

So if one were going to install one on a Valk, where would be the best place (for function and for technical difficulty of the install)?  And if this is at the hottest (or near hottest) location, how close to the oil temp should it read?  And is there any solid reason to have both?

Thanks in advance.

[98valk]

That's what I thought Mike, thank you.

I thought about pursuing a water temp gauge before I got the oil temp dipstick. 

So if one were going to install one on a Valk, where would be the best place (for function and for technical difficulty of the install)?  And if this is at the hottest (or near hottest) location, how close to the oil temp should it read?  And is there any solid reason to have both?

Thanks in advance.

I replaced the sender for the idiot light with the one required for the gage. My gage readings are exactly as the service manual states. This is in the thermo housing.

[RP#62]

I put my sensor in the thermostat housing.  As noted, you typically want it to be in the hottest part of the circuit which is going to be at the exit from the engine before it goes into the radiator.
-RP

[JC]

For the coolant temp I've used one of these for a couple of years.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mr-Gasket-Small-Style-Silver-Thermo-Cap-13-PSI-Radiator-Cap-/380378535614?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item589053d6be

It works okay, but the colors on the gauge fade in the sun over time. My fan kicks in when the needle is at 200°.

[Relax]

when it comes to gauges.....

http://www.valkyrieguy.com/motosens.htm

nuff said,,,,,,,

I still have my original high tempt warning, but this as well. As I understand it, this added cooling temp gauge mesure water right after the radiator,,,but at high temps,,,,that is probably not that wrong ....( ?) .. termostate is open....
In my area ( Norway)  where 20 C is a good temp for the weather...and 80 km/h ( 50 m/h) is a good speed,,I often read less than 60 C on it,.,,,,AFTER the radiator,,,, ( probably a cold area for the sensor )

[Tfrank59]

For the coolant temp I've used one of these for a couple of years.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mr-Gasket-Small-Style-Silver-Thermo-Cap-13-PSI-Radiator-Cap-/380378535614?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item589053d6be

It works okay, but the colors on the gauge fade in the sun over time. My fan kicks in when the needle is at 200°.

Hey I know it's been a while, but do you know if it's the Mr. Gasket stock #2470 that fits a Valkyrie radiator?  Maybe several #s do, as long as it's 1 3/4"?  Your link pulls up a whole page of caps and not sure which to order.  thanks.
Tom

[Tfrank59]

Clymer's book says radiator cap is 16-20 psi.  That should equal a Mr. Gasket 2473.  2473R is red and B is blue naturally.  There are on ebay and including shipping less than $18.  I got one.  Thanks for the tip.

Pluggy

Yep, I just bought the 16 psi 2473R and will see how it works.  While riding today I checked how easy it would be to look down at the rad cap--no problem.  Okay, maybe I should wait till a red light.    Thanks!

[Jess from VA]

Some of these radiator temp gauges have a history of leaking.  Obviously, keep (carry) your original.

[Tfrank59]

Some of these radiator temp gauges have a history of leaking.  Obviously, keep (carry) your original.

Yeah, good point. In fact the one that I'm currently running (OEM) I bought new last summer.  I hope this eBay one isn't a piece of junk! 

[Tfrank59]

Mr.  Gasket  radiator cap with gage arrived today.  Installed it for a quick ride.  Started leaking after about a mile and a half.  Made it home, let it cool, removed and re-tightened and tried again.  No leaks, but there are now multiple little drops of coolant inside the glass.  I'll go for a refund.  Can't risk it.

Pluggy

Ugh, that's bad news.  Hope the one I'm getting don't do like that--really, a mile and half and it leaked!?  Sucks!    Soon as it got up to temp/pressure, baam!

[Jess from VA]

As noted above..... when these first came out years back it seemed everyone (on a Valk) reported leaking caps.

[Hef]

I'm 66 years old and have ridden many a mile on a variety of motorcycles. Have never had or understood the need for an oil "temperature" guage. Can someone explain it to me?

[BobB]

I'm 66 years old and have ridden many a mile on a variety of motorcycles. Have never had or understood the need for an oil "temperature" guage. Can someone explain it to me?

I'm 70 and also have many miles behind me.  The dip sticks are just another item to adorn our Phat Ladies with.  A piece of chrome that does more than just shine...

[Tfrank59]

I'm 66 years old and have ridden many a mile on a variety of motorcycles. Have never had or understood the need for an oil "temperature" guage. Can someone explain it to me?

Yeah, I don't get having an "oil temperature" gauge either – I'd be much more interested in oil pressure. . What I would like though is a water temp gauge, rather than just the stock idiot light, so that I can see the start of a problem with the cooling system before it's too late.  Case in point, my Toyota pickup recently had a blown head gasket, and I would not have known about that in time without a water temp gauge, which probably saved me a cracked head through overheating.

[Firefighter]

I have water temp., oil press. and voltmeter on my IS. Can't remember where I mounted the water sender, but it was on the block as I wanted to keep the idiot light. Once you learn where the temp. gauge indicates for your on riding style, then any different gauge readings should tell you something is going on. Same with volt and oil. I also have a light that indicates when the fan is running. Works good for me and gives me peace of mind at a glance when I am out in the middle of nowhere. Firefighter

[Tfrank59]

Did not go baam, but I looked down to check it and a little pool of coolant was riding on top of it.  It drizzled green on the way home.  Not a big deal in the overall scheme of things.  There are worse things that can fail.

Better luck to you, Sir!

Okay, so I put on my Mr. gasket radiator cap with water temp gauge.  I warmed her up to full operating temperature, and no leaks woo hoo!  It was interesting to note that the fan didn't come on until about 210°F.  And when it did come on it immediately cooled right down to about 180 – that's if the gauge is calibrated accurately.  At any rate, it's nice to be able to see my water temp, and I will carry my regular radiator cap just in case.

[desertrefugee]

On a water cooled machine, I don't understand why some folks here wouldn't understand the desire to have some sort (any sort) of temperature readout on the motorcycle. 

These bikes come from the factory with a simple over-temp light.  I'd like to get just a little premonition of things to come before the light comes on and forces me to  the shoulder.  In the final analysis, oil temperature is arguably what matters most.  In fact, although not a linear relationship, oil pressure is inversely related to oil temperature. Temp goes up, pressure goes down (as the viscosity is reduced).  At some point, it plateaus, but the effect is there - and keeps going until the oil is quite hot.

A fellow Valk enthusiast (member here) lives nearby.  He's going through a very high-mileage example (parting) that was neglected and has hydrolocked.  Asked if I wanted to see it and/or scavenge parts from it.  The oil temp dipstick was one of the first things that I went for...

In my opinion, a very functional piece of bling.  (Can't say that about most.  In this case, chrome CAN get you home!)