HD's Air Temp Gauge Does Work!!
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Southern Ontario Canada
RE: HD's Air Temp Gauge Does Work!!
Let me see. I'm out in the open on a bike riding through the wind, and I need a thermometer to tell me if it's hot or cold out!
I'd rather know the temp of the oil in the bike.
I haven't had a chance to see how accurate the one in the RG is yet. Too much salt on the wintery roads here now. I put one in my 02 standard and it seemed pretty accurate, but I really wanted a clock for the dash. JP had one, then discontinued it so I stuck the air temp guage in (came with the oil pressure guage as a package).
The RG has a clock in the radio, so I don't worry about the time anymore, but I still like to monitor the engine as much as I can. Maybe a cylinder head temp guage would be nice, but I think oil temp is more important.
Just a wish list.
I'd rather know the temp of the oil in the bike.
I haven't had a chance to see how accurate the one in the RG is yet. Too much salt on the wintery roads here now. I put one in my 02 standard and it seemed pretty accurate, but I really wanted a clock for the dash. JP had one, then discontinued it so I stuck the air temp guage in (came with the oil pressure guage as a package).
The RG has a clock in the radio, so I don't worry about the time anymore, but I still like to monitor the engine as much as I can. Maybe a cylinder head temp guage would be nice, but I think oil temp is more important.
Just a wish list.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 175
Likes: 6
From: NW ARK
RE: HD's Air Temp Gauge Does Work!!
While to some the temp gauge might be useful, to some its something to worry about. I did see someone with a modded temp gauge that had a green space between two red marks, I asked what that was? He said that was a "RUB" temp gauge. If it was in the green it was safe to ride, not to cold and not to hot!!1 I thought that was funny!!! It looked like he had painted the lens. Something for someone but not for everbody!!!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 25
From: St George, UT
RE: HD's Air Temp Gauge Does Work!!
I've been waiting for this topic to show up. I wanted to share how I fixed my erroneous readings from the dash temperature guage.
From the gitgo, this guage has read about 10=15 degrees high, verified by online temperature readings and bank signs. Last week, I pulled the nose cap off and found the sensor zip tied to the fairing bracket, just below the left speaker. Since I thought perhaps the metal was conducting some heat from the headlight cone, I moved the sensor down to the side of the bracket that supports the radio system. I noted that the actual sensing surface appears to be a expoxy like face to the housing, so I mounted it face down with VELCRO holding it to the radio bracket.
The sensor is a plastic box with detachable plug in. One face is the expoxy like surface. It needs to be in free air. The sides of the box are now insulated from metal heat conductivity by way of the velcro. It now reads accurately, within 1-2 degrees of official readings. It does take a bit of riding after leaving the warm garage before it registers the actual reading, maybe five miles.[8D]
From the gitgo, this guage has read about 10=15 degrees high, verified by online temperature readings and bank signs. Last week, I pulled the nose cap off and found the sensor zip tied to the fairing bracket, just below the left speaker. Since I thought perhaps the metal was conducting some heat from the headlight cone, I moved the sensor down to the side of the bracket that supports the radio system. I noted that the actual sensing surface appears to be a expoxy like face to the housing, so I mounted it face down with VELCRO holding it to the radio bracket.
The sensor is a plastic box with detachable plug in. One face is the expoxy like surface. It needs to be in free air. The sides of the box are now insulated from metal heat conductivity by way of the velcro. It now reads accurately, within 1-2 degrees of official readings. It does take a bit of riding after leaving the warm garage before it registers the actual reading, maybe five miles.[8D]
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
RE: HD's Air Temp Gauge Does Work!!
If you relocate the sensor outside the fairing it's very accurate all the time in fact. I did this last spring and all summer it was pretty much dead-on in all conditions.
Easy task, doesnt take long to do it. Makes the gauge usable.
Easy task, doesnt take long to do it. Makes the gauge usable.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 0
From:
RE: HD's Air Temp Gauge Does Work!!
The sensor is attached to the radio or speaker frame (can't remember which). It'sa rectangular sensor, white. I disconnected the sensor wiring, drilled a small hole in the lower left (back) side of the fairing, inserting the loose wiring ends through the hole and reconnected; drilled another smaller hole that the sensor attachmentprotrusion fits in, then siliconed the flat sensor surfaceto the fairing.
[IMG]local://upfiles/1638/3D72D646F5A2452D909A5B3FAA43FF46.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/1638/3D72D646F5A2452D909A5B3FAA43FF46.jpg[/IMG]
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
From:
RE: HD's Air Temp Gauge Does Work!!
It sucks. I'd like to replace it with something that I can actually use.
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 805
Likes: 0
RE: HD's Air Temp Gauge Does Work!!
I am with most of you. Everytime I look at it on my RG I think of that old skit from Robin William on Good Morning Vietnam.
"What is theweather outside? How in the hell should I know? Gotta window open it! It's Hot Damn Hot...."
Jeff
"What is theweather outside? How in the hell should I know? Gotta window open it! It's Hot Damn Hot...."
Jeff
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,424
Likes: 0
From: Hoboken, New Jersey
RE: HD's Air Temp Gauge Does Work!!
Its nice to know that if I drill a few holes in my fairing and remount the sensor outside and below the fairing it will be more accurate....but as soon as I get my oil temp gauge the air temp is on the parts shelf for the duration!