Author Topic: Oil pressure gauge for 74 CB550 (Read 7979 times)

pmpski_1 · « **on:** May 25, 2005, 12:17:17 PM »

I'm experiencing the same problem with my oil light as LA Nomad, except mine is coming on much sooner. It happens after ~10 minutes of around town riding. Nomad, any update on your scenario?

I would like to add a permanent oil pressure gauge, sort of like some of you have done with your CB750s.

1. Can I do this on a CB550?
2. Is it possible to have an oil temp guage as well? Where could\should I put the sensor?
3. What is the part name or number for the switch that turns the oil light on? Where is the best place to look up part numbers?

I've seen oil on the #4 spark plug, so I fear the worst. I would like to check the pressure and switch before an engine rebuild.

My father and nephew are racing go-karts. They have a computer that gets information from the engine with a sensor that goes in the place of the washer on the spark plug. Of course this is a single cylinder go-kart, but it sounds like I could do the same thing to get a cylinder head temperature reading. Anyone have any experience with something like this? I'd like to build something that will become a permanent addition to the bike. I don't like the oil light coming on and not having the information that I need to diagnose while sitting at a stop light.

Thanks in advance,
Brian

Bobby · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2005, 12:58:40 PM »

Interesting thought about the sensor. My buddy builds/races the 125cc Shifter Karts and it has a nifty electronic information pod. I have blasted around vacant parking lots with a few of his karts, but I never fiddled around with the functionality as I was to busy tring not to kill myself. I'm gonna see what devices he has and if they can be "fitted" to a CB. Heck, anything can be made to fit with proper leverage and applied heat...

pmpski_1 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 25, 2005, 01:51:36 PM »

I'm very interested in this device for the Karts. It's called a MyChron. I know it is used for RPM and temps, but it also keeps lap times and top speeds. The lap times and speeds depend on the track having a receiver to pick up the signal from the computer itself. I'll be visiting them next week, so I'll definitely post what I find out.

TwoTired · « **Reply #3 on:** May 25, 2005, 02:56:27 PM »

You might want to check previous posts:
http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=1348.0

I have an oil pressure gauge fitted to my 78 CB550. Its fitted into the plug located just below the points cover. I think that's a main oil galley plug. There's a right angle fitting going forward, a 3 inch pipe and another right angle fitting where the 2 1/4 gauge is screwed in. I should mention that if it breaks off, the oil will be pumped out of the bike before any lubrication occurs. The Honda Shop manual page 36 shows the oiling path.

It's just too tempting to look at that gauge while driving. And, it's just the way wrong place for eyes to be focused on while driving. Especially when the idiot light tells you to do so, instead of when you make the concious decision during a good safe situational time. Better the engine siezes, than crash and break off bits of personal anatomy.

oil pressure switch from the parts fiche of a 76 - CB550F
switch assy, oil pressure p/n 35500-33-014 Honda code 0401265

As far as I know, all the oil pressure switches for the CB500-CB550 are the same.

Cheers,

pmpski_1 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 25, 2005, 11:24:29 PM »

Thanks Lloyd. I was thinking that something would have to be custom made for the pressure\temp gauge. I agree that it would be too tempting to look at it and wind up causing some damage.

Thanks for the part number. I'll try the switch first and see if that is the culprit.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2005, 12:33:21 AM »

Well I'm sure you've seen my gauges for CB750's, (You haven't, where have you been? Quick, look at this then: http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=1298.msg9199#msg9199 )

Now as much as I agree with Two Tired, I really only check the gauge on start-up and when I'm sitting at the lights and there is no reason why the gauge has to be positioned down there anyway. Why not have it up on the handlebars? Earls makes some nice braided lines, and I made an oil cooler attachment for a guy in the US for his Suzuki GS1000 that was fitted for both his oil pressure light, oil pressure gauge, and temp gauge.

Tell me what size the galley plug is and I'll make you an adapter that you can mount on your engine, then just run some neat braided line to a position on your handlebars or fairing, to mount an oil pressure gauge and maybe an oil temp gauge too? Here's a pic of the adapter I made for that Suzuki guy last year. Cheers, Terry.

pmpski_1 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 26, 2005, 01:08:47 AM »

mmmm the ideas are starting to flow. Yes Terry, I am an admirer of your work

I guess I'm learning that this can be done for a 550 as well.

I was thinking about the adapter and an electric gauge instead of a mechanical one. That way I could get a small LED display and just stick it on somewhere up top. I would think it would be a bit cheaper to run the wire instead of a hose, although the steel braided hose would look pretty cool. Any idea whether your adapter will work with an electric gauge?

I'm gonna do some more homework on how the electric ones work. I'm not set on using an electric gauge, but I'm thinking about a custom "dashboard" for the bikes future. I have a CBX triple tree and there is no provision for mounting the gauges like the current upper clamp.

First things first, I'm gonna replace the switch for the oil light to see if I have a real problem or just a slight annoyance. Terry I will definitely be interested in an adapter in the future.

Klark Kent · « **Reply #7 on:** August 30, 2006, 10:23:23 AM »

pmpski, terry,

did you guys ever do this? have any "tatty old" adapters laying around, terry?

i would love me an oil gauge on the bars, AND i think my sending unit is shot. even if i fix the dummy light i want to know before i reach 7psi, and that the reason is oil pressure not 31 year old electrics.

-KK

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #8 on:** August 30, 2006, 02:13:21 PM »

Well coincidentally, because I'lll be using an ARD Magneto on my racer project, I'll use the oil pressure sender outlet to tap in an oil pressure gauge line, (No room for a gauge in the usual position because the maggy is in the way, and no battery power for the oil pressure light) which I'll mount up around the steering head somewhere. I'll post some pics when I work it out, but it's not hard, any 100 psi auto gauge and some line will do it, and the car type ones are all back-lit too. Cheers, Terry.

chung · « **Reply #9 on:** August 30, 2006, 08:37:07 PM »

MOON makes some really nice liquid filled gauges (1-3/4 inch?) They're bout $40-45 each and sending units are just a little less. W/O the light console, they will tuck in under the Tach and Speedo nicely.

Tim. · « **Reply #10 on:** August 30, 2006, 10:06:54 PM »

Terry - any reason an oil pressure and/or temp gauge couldn't go on one of your fancy oil coolers (my next purchase btw for the hot hot summer days up here in Toronto)? Granted the temp wouldn't be the same as in some other locations, but it's all relative anyhow.

Klark Kent · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2006, 06:10:39 AM »

Quote from: Terry in Australia on May 26, 2005, 12:33:21 AM

Tell me what size the galley plug is and I'll make you an adapter that you can mount on your engine, then just run some neat braided line to a position on your handlebars or fairing, to mount an oil pressure gauge and maybe an oil temp gauge too? Here's a pic of the adapter I made for that Suzuki guy last year. Cheers, Terry.

Quote from: Terry in Australia on August 30, 2006, 02:13:21 PM

Well coincidentally, because I'lll be using an ARD Magneto on my racer project, I'll use the oil pressure sender outlet to tap in an oil pressure gauge line, (No room for a gauge in the usual position because the maggy is in the way, and no battery power for the oil pressure light) which I'll mount up around the steering head somewhere. I'll post some pics when I work it out, but it's not hard, any 100 psi auto gauge and some line will do it, and the car type ones are all back-lit too. Cheers, Terry.

terry
are you suggesting this as a better way to hook up an oil guage on a 550? I was asking about if you ever made an adapter for pmpski and his non-magnetoed 74 550, which would be exactly what i need for my K1. Are you no longer offering this service, and if not, who is? I would very much like to bypass the dummy lighting altogether and wouldnt mind using the sending unit fitting, although this seems like a lot more 'adapting' would have to go on. and by adapting, i mean spending money, as a machinist i am not.
thanks for the quick response
-KK

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #12 on:** September 01, 2006, 03:50:36 PM »

G'Day KK, well my post (above) referred to work I'm doing on my CB750 racer project bike. On it, the oil pressure sender sits behind the cylinders next to the starter motor, so it's no real biggie to hook up a line there for a gauge, and if you wanted to keep your light, I could make an adapter that would allow both. Yeah, it'll cost more, because that braided line is expensive, and you'll need a bracket for your gauge etc. Regardless of the cost, it's infinitely do-able. Cheers, Terry.

Quote from: tintin on August 30, 2006, 10:06:54 PM

Terry - any reason an oil pressure and/or temp gauge couldn't go on one of your fancy oil coolers (my next purchase btw for the hot hot summer days up here in Toronto)? Granted the temp wouldn't be the same as in some other locations, but it's all relative anyhow.

Hmmmnn, well I suppose you could fit a "T" in the line to measure pressure and temp, but I'd be more interested in measuring the temp on my 750 at the oil tank (or at the sump in the other wet sump models) and I know that the two best spots for measuring oil pressure are either the oil pressure switch or the gallery plug, so I don't think I'd bother? On my project bike, I'm grafting an oil temp gauge (non electronic) onto my oil tank, it's basically just a thermometer, and was an accessory for the DOHC bikes of the day, but looks pretty cool. (pardon the pun) Cheers, Terry.

jim600xc · « **Reply #13 on:** September 05, 2006, 06:55:33 AM »

I added this oil pressure gage. It came with the mount bracket shown.

jim600xc · « **Reply #14 on:** September 05, 2006, 07:08:12 AM »

another view

Klark Kent · « **Reply #15 on:** September 05, 2006, 08:40:14 AM »

thanks for the pics. do you have any pics of the sending unit and hose routing and such? was there anything special you had to do to get it to work on a 550?

-KK

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #16 on:** September 05, 2006, 07:37:54 PM »

Quote from: jim600xc on September 05, 2006, 06:55:33 AM

I added this oil pressure gage. It came with the mount bracket shown.

Very nice indeed!

Tim. · « **Reply #17 on:** October 17, 2006, 11:12:15 AM »

So, was anything ever worked out for the 550? I was looking at the oil path plug under my points cover last night thinking it would be a good place for access. There are two more on the underside of the engine - not sure about the suitability in terms of accessing an accurate pressure reading but would be tidy and out of the way.

They're labelled #5 on the diagram - all the same part.

I'd love to run a braided line up to a gauge on the bars.

jim600xc · « **Reply #18 on:** October 17, 2006, 11:43:30 AM »

Yes the port under the points cover was the one I used. The oil line is quite small in diameter so it's really not objectionable secured to the right frame member. The bike has an oil cooler installed and I put the gage in so I could readily see if she sprung a leak. It usually runs 70 psi on Castrol 20w50 going down the road. Idle is around 20 psi.

Jim

Tim. · « **Reply #19 on:** October 17, 2006, 01:40:48 PM »

I'd love to see pics! I have no idea where to source the bits and peices for this sort of thing, but it sure sounds basic enough to put together.

My CB750F has a glycerine filled Turbo boost gauge on a bracket up by the handlebars - that's the sort of thing I'd like on the 550.

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Author Topic: Oil pressure gauge for 74 CB550 (Read 7979 times)

Bobby

jim600xc

jim600xc

jim600xc