Topic: best way to check for oil pressure?

[izaleth]

im looking to do a first start up of my new cb 750 project and want to make sure it has good oil pressure, not looking to spend 80$ right now, ive got some pressure gauges laying around, mainly need to know whats a good way to check oil pressure on these bikes? (no lights or anything this bike is motor and frame more or less no wiring at all)

[denward17]

Probably remove the oil pressure switch behind the cylinders and connect a gauge there.

[ekpent]

  When I do a first start on a new 750 project bike I leave the oil cap off the tank and peek down inside with a flashlight and look for bubbles and circulation when I first start it. Most of the time I have done an oil change too so I see a drop in the level/volume. All mine though have had the light which is reassuring.

[newday777]

Have you done anything to the motor? Have you had it running before now?


Hackaweek has a oil pressure test. He rigged up a pressure gauge in place of the pressure switch as well as checked the rocker shafts for oil flow.

[newday777]

[Mark K]

im looking to do a first start up of my new cb 750 project and want to make sure it has good oil pressure, not looking to spend 80$ right now, ive got some pressure gauges laying around, mainly need to know whats a good way to check oil pressure on these bikes? (no lights or anything this bike is motor and frame more or less no wiring at all)

I wanted to do the same thing, check for oil psi after reassembling engine. I basically did it the way Dino did in his hack-a-week videos, which Newday quoted above. I bought an engine oil psi gauge kit from Harbor Freight, was not super expensive and worked great. I had issues initially of not getting oil psi because I did not prime the oil pump correctly, had to pull the oil pump out and reprime the pump.

https://www.harborfreight.com/engine-oil-pressure-test-kit-62621.html

[70CB750]

Oil gauge permanently in the plug on the right side is the way to go - IMHO.  I have a habit of checking oil pressure at traffic lights and other times when idling.  It also tells me if the engine is fully warmed up.

[BenelliSEI]

Oil gauge permanently in the plug on the right side is the way to go - IMHO.  I have a habit of checking oil pressure at traffic lights and other times when idling.  It also tells me if the engine is fully warmed up.

+1 to that. I set them on the end of a short, 90 degree 1/8 NPT fitting and then screw the guage around until 60 PSI is “straight ahead”. Occasional glances are reassuring. I also carry a spare oil gallery cap should the bike ever “fall over”. If you look closely, that are on most of my bikes.