Oil temp. gauge
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 72
From: North East
There's been alot written about using or not using teflon tape. Harley suggests to use Loctite 565 in the kit instructions. Don't know what's so special about Loctite 565. It's ptfe pipe thread sealant good to 300 degrees. That does raise the question why use 300 degree sealant on a system that "requires" a gauge that goes to 350 degrees?
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 723
Likes: 62
From: Cape Cod, Ma.
I just installed one last week. I ran it from the pan, up the frame, under the tank to the fairing. Instead of cutting and soldering wires I attached two flat blade conntectors to the wiring for the gauge to plug into the light socket connector to power the gauge. Worked like a charm and if I need to return things to original I can.
Neil
RDMC
Neil
RDMC
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 7
From: Bellingham, WA
I just installed one last week. I ran it from the pan, up the frame, under the tank to the fairing. Instead of cutting and soldering wires I attached two flat blade conntectors to the wiring for the gauge to plug into the light socket connector to power the gauge. Worked like a charm and if I need to return things to original I can.
Neil
RDMC
Neil
RDMC
Last edited by wldbill; Nov 16, 2009 at 09:12 PM. Reason: Adding pics
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
From: Danville, KY
Ditto, Ditto, and Ditto
While I had fairings out for paint, Iadded the temp gauge. Moved the fuel gauge to left side ( scraped air temp gauge), put oil temp gauge above oil pressure gauge, added about 1 foot of wire so could route up and under tank, used thread sealant with teflon on sending unit threads. Still breaking in motor, but this gauge should be standard equipment instead of a useless air temp gauge.
Never use teflon tape for sealing function, it has no sealing properties, it only works because it's a lubricant and lets you screw the threads tighter. Always use a good thread sealer compound, something that actually fills the air gap between the threads.
Never use teflon tape for sealing function, it has no sealing properties, it only works because it's a lubricant and lets you screw the threads tighter. Always use a good thread sealer compound, something that actually fills the air gap between the threads.
Last edited by DocDyna; Nov 16, 2009 at 08:28 PM.
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 787
Likes: 2
From: Western Wyoming
I bought the in-dash gauge last winter with a Jagg oil cooler.Was getting ready to stick it in when I had the outer bat-wing off to wire an amp and speakers in.Then I read on this forum from a couple of guys who after installing the gauge said they'd gotten so fixated on the oil temp. that it ruined their ride.If I'm half as impulsive/compulsive as the ball and chain say's I am,it would have ruined my ride too.So took it back and got the oil filler gauge instead.By the way my ambient temp gauge is right on below 25 deg.f.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 72
From: North East
Yes?
No?
Other?
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 72
From: North East
I was always under the impression it shouldn't be used where you have to have metal to metal contact for a ground and/or where pcs of the tape could pollute the system (hydraulic) and potentially do damage down stream.
So all of that teflon tape that plumbers use doesn't fill the voids between threads???
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 7
From: Bellingham, WA
I bought the in-dash gauge last winter with a Jagg oil cooler.Was getting ready to stick it in when I had the outer bat-wing off to wire an amp and speakers in.Then I read on this forum from a couple of guys who after installing the gauge said they'd gotten so fixated on the oil temp. that it ruined their ride.If I'm half as impulsive/compulsive as the ball and chain say's I am,it would have ruined my ride too.So took it back and got the oil filler gauge instead.By the way my ambient temp gauge is right on below 25 deg.f.
My gauge is reading the oil temp after it's been cooled in the oil pan. So how hot is the oil in the head or other parts of the engine? It can go on, endlessly!
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Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 787
Likes: 2
From: Western Wyoming
I think you made a good move. It had just been installed when I did a ride up thru Canada and then down to Missouri. When I hit the first stop light in Kansas City on a hot afternoon and saw the oil temp move up from where it seemed locked at 180-190 to 230 -240 in a heartbeat, I became instantly worried. The temp didn't drop until traffic thinned and a speed over 45mph was maintained. It was a worry some thing during the rest of the trip which took me through Page, Zion NP and Las Vegas, where the temp gauge read high again. When I think off all the worry free trips made under the same conditions on other Harleys , I think the gauge is just one more PIA.
My gauge is reading the oil temp after it's been cooled in the oil pan. So how hot is the oil in the head or other parts of the engine? It can go on, endlessly!
My gauge is reading the oil temp after it's been cooled in the oil pan. So how hot is the oil in the head or other parts of the engine? It can go on, endlessly!