Motosens Coolant Temp Guage

[vic]

I'm finally going to take the plunge and install buy a Motosens fuel guage and coolant temp guage for my '98 Tourer that I put an Interstate tank on a few years ago.  Right now, the tank is sealed up with a BigBF plate so I need to also get the sending unit and o-ring for it.

My question concerns installing the coolant temp guage.....it looks like there's two options....either going into the coolant plug on the right side of the engine or tapping into the radiator hose.  Of those who installed the Motosens temp sensor in the engine thread plug, was it easy to get to or did you have to remove the right side exhaust pipe?  I noticed that the picture on Motosens' web site shows the plug on the right side of the engine but it looks like its really underneath.  Thanks for any information.

[ptgb]

I installed a set on my Standard two years ago. Putting the coolant temp sensor on the right-side of the engine was not simple, but can done relatively painlessly with some patience.

Go to my website, there it talks about the install of the Motosens.

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

In researching it after the fact, most who put the sensor on say that it's better to mount it in the coolant hose (upper). It is more accurate there, but installing it there requires an adaptor and a bit of work there too.

Good luck... those Motosens are a nice add on.

[rmrc51]

I just recently installed ( 4 weeks ago ) mine in the port under the engine and didn't remove the headers. Would it have been easier with the headers off?? Hell yes!!!!! lol. But it can be done with a little patience (and skinny fingers. lol). 

Lining up the sender to initially catch the threads in the engine block it the trickiest part. You have to kinda balance the sender with you fingers and slowly turn it until you feel it catch.

I have a Trike with truck stacks so removing the exhaust is a bit more involved lining everything up again. If I had a regular Valk,,, I'd definitely take the exhaust off to install the sender. Oh, one more thing. You also have to back out the motor mount bolt on that side( no big deal ). It partially blocks the area you need access to.

[SgtBunny]

I was looking on their site and it looks like you could also go with the G10 sensor and G31 inline holder.

[Garland]

I installed mine about six weeks ago. I removed the right side exhaust just because I couldn't manage to get the oem plug out with the headers in the way. I'm sure it could be done, but not by me on that particular day. I have had the exhaust off several times so removing and installing it is not so much a pain as it used to be.

You are going to love your gauges-they are one of my favorite additions, along with my Motolights, Mick-O-Pegs, and Ultimate seat.

[Scott from FL, now in Maine]

I truely love the look of those gauges and agree they fit the Valk like a glove.    Where did you buy the gauges and what is the price range to be expected for the whole 4 gauge set with sensors and harness? I am seriously considering getting a set. TYIA   

[ptgb]

Just go to www.motosens.com - the company is out of Germany, but has a distributor in Canada. You simply use their online order form to get the gauges and sending units, etc that you want. Once the order is placed... usually the next day... the Canadian distributor will  email you a detailed list of what you order so you can confirm it. You then call them and give them your credit card over the phone. Takes about 7-10 days to get you stuff. For four gauges, brackets, and sending units, figure right around $600

I sold my Standard and bought an Interstate. I wanted to put Motosens on that too... I didn't use the white faced ones off my Standard (sold'em) as I wanted to match the I/S black-faced speedo/tach. . I bought black-faced ones. Couldn't find a good place to mount them on the bars/fairing with all my other stuff, so I went this route:

I have since lined them up better, but they work great and I can usually glance over at them pretty quickly.

 

[Scott from FL, now in Maine]

Thanks ptgb 

[Garland]

I just ordered the voltmeter and coolant temp gauge, along with sending units, bracket, and wiring harness. The whole package was $261 with  shipping, including a 10% VRCC discount.  It did take a couple weeks to receive the order via Canadian and US mail but the people there are very nice to talk to, and the gauges are very high quality.

[vic]

Thanks to all of you for the helpful information.  I guess I'll hook up the coolant temp guage through the engine thread plug and try to be VERY patient on installation day.  Thanks again.

[Kingbee]

Definitely put the sensor in the upper radiator hose.  Mounting it in the bottom of the block measures the cooler water coming from the radiator.

[SgtBunny]

Definitely put the sensor in the upper radiator hose.  Mounting it in the bottom of the block measures the cooler water coming from the radiator.

What size sensor and holder did you use?  Is that the 1/8" NPT sensor and 28mm holder.

[Kingbee]

Yes, that's a 1/8 NPT sensor.
An adapter like this should work fine

http://www.glowshiftdirect.com/28-mm-water-sender-attachment.aspx


I did my original installation on the underside of the block.  Getting that sucker in there was a batch, and the readings were, well, not what I wanted.

I felt the radiator hose location was easier to do, and a whole lot more accurate.

[VALKTERY]

Very pleased with my motosens , installation is not bad if you have some  wireing knowledge and decent hand tool skills. be carefull if you use lower block location for coolant senser, threds are very fine, don't want to strip those ..it is doable without removeing pipes . just takes patience...

[Kingbee]

Coincidentally enough, I just installed a temp gauge sensor today, in the upper radiator hose. I got my adapter from our member RP#62, who you can send a PM to, to see if he has any more.

Here's the adapter, with the sensor for my gauge.



After you've determined the adapter location in the hose, don't forget to remove an amount of hose equal to the amount of length the adapter takes up.