Topic: Update: Holy Bodgejob Batman!

[Nortstudio]

I was trying to get my oil pressure light to work, and finding that the wire end inside the bucket was attached, I took off the cover on the left side to see if it had come apart at the oil pressure switch.  The picture below is what I found...  Seems like some sort of "something" that was once in paste form, and hardens like nails!  Any idea if I try to take this thing off to replace it, will it snap something important in there?  The parts fiche shows the part, but not exactly what can of worms I will be opening

[DavePhipps]

 
OMG good luck.
My son just told me "I don't want to say what that looks like"
I would start with acetone to see if that softens it.

[wardenerd]

damn now mine doesn't look so bad.

[Stev-o]

I wouldn't worry about screwing anything up.....at least not any worse than it is!
At least you found the oil light issue!

[Brandotheamazing]

I am constantly amazed at how people who don't know anything about fixing anything "fix" things. Check out http://thereifixedit.failblog.org/ Some realy good one's on there, you should post your picture up on there too!

Good luck with the oil light, and now I go for a ride!

[q2418130103p]

Looks like JB Weld to me

[BeSeeingYou]

It looks like Marine-Tex or some other type of epoxy.  Heat will soften some epoxies but some like JB Weld can stand up to heat.  Go at it with a sharp chisel and a hammer and try and break it up into small chunks if heat does not work.

[DavePhipps]

From the JB weld site

Q: How can I remove J-B Weld after it is fully cured?
A: When fully cured, J-B Weld can only be removed by grinding or filing it off, or by directly heating the product above the 600 degree maximum temperature threshold.

[Frankenkit]

even fully cured JB weld is susceptible to ethanol.  Ask anyone who's tried to fix their carb standpipes etc.  Might be tough getting that off, but maybe if you took the oil pump off and just soaked the whole shebang in some ethanol gas for awhile until the stuff softens up?

...or get a new one off ebay

...or just see if you can unscrew that mess and just get another sensor.  They weren't that expensive when I got one for my 650.

[dave500]

try and unscrew the sender completely

[brycegp]

this is what mine looks like...for what its worth.

[TwoTired]

try and unscrew the sender completely

+ 1
It was probably blobbed up like that because it leaked.  So, you are looking at a replacement anyway.  Get that first.
Then stick pipe wrench on it or a big channel lock and turn the thing counter clock wise.

Pray they didn't JB weld the sender's threads.  If they did, then heat and torque is you only hope.

[Nortstudio]

It seemed that i could see some threads under there. I was fearing the threads being messed up, so I looked.  But it may have gotten on some of them. I'll have to wait until I get a replacement before I mess with it.

This has, with this bike so far, taken the cake.

 Timing and valve adjustments should be a joy this week when I find that the points are made out of candy corn and there are dirty socks stuffed in the tappets

JB Weld site declares "heat in excess of 500 degrees" is the only thing that can remove it, other than grinding and chisel. Perfect!

All points lead back to a blow torch for me....

[Stev-o]

grinder with a cutting disc will take it, no prob.

[Nortstudio]

I've got a Dremel with some cutting discs.  Hopefully that will do it.

[Stev-o]

We're impatiently waiting...

[Nortstudio]

Don't be too impatient, I've got about 4 other big projects competing for space on the 'sidewalk workshop,' and I'm hoping to find a used replacement instead of having to get the new one for $30.  Trying to not go through $ like water at this point.

But I will keep you posted.

[Frankenkit]

If you can still see the threads, you should be okay, because doesn't the sender unit screw into the pump?  should be able to just get a new sender unit and be on your way, right?

[DavePhipps]

If it doesn't leak, leave it for now and get a replacement later. You know it's there and have a plan of attack, it will just take a bit of time.
Till then check the regulator and rectifier. Considering the skills of the PO, I wouldn't be suprised if they were toast.

[Lavis500]

Perhaps I see this because it's what I work with, but it looks like what I would call "Pro-seal."  It's a two part silicone based sealant, usually in a gray-green color.  In the military we use it to seal mating surfaces to prevent leaks and corrosion.  It gets hard, but should still be somewhat pliable.  Whatever you have, it's color and the appearance of consistency seems to match what I'm familiar with.  Remember that your oil pressure sender is not a small unit.  You may simply be feeling it underneath the goop.  Try cutting it with a sharp tool, but be careful.  You could also simply take a pair of vice grips or some channel locks to it and see what you get.  If it is pro-seal, it should brake fine with some torque.  Pro-seal is also relatively unaffected by any chemicals you can throw at it. 

Just my $0.02.  Again, I'm probably just seeing what I want to see, but who knows.

[dave500]

any auto supply place should have a ten or fifteen dollar sender.

[DavePhipps]

Hey Nor. This is completely off topic, but your avatar looks just like my son

[Nortstudio]

They are all the same?  Maybe I'm mistaken in thinking what I need.  When I looked on the parts fiche, I saw the part called oil pressure switch.  Is that not the part covered by the goop?

The goop, for the record, is definitely hard.  It's not pliable, it's fairly light gray.  I am hoping it's not JB WELD, but it seems harder than the pro-seal mentioned here.

[Nortstudio]

Hey Nor. This is completely off topic, but your avatar looks just like my son

That me at about 4 I guess.  I think it's pretty obvious, even at that age, that I was headed for trouble!

But man, that 3-wheeler was easy to wrench....those were the days

[Stev-o]

Hey Nor. This is completely off topic, but your avatar looks just like my son

That me at about 4 I guess.  I think it's pretty obvious, even at that age, that I was headed for trouble!

But man, that 3-wheeler was easy to wrench....those were the days

That's a great photo!