Aftermarket temp gauge
- SnoBrdr
- Posts: 784
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:01 am
- Location: Providence, Rhode Island
- Motorcycle: 1978 GL 1000
131K Original Owner
Aftermarket temp gauge
Has anyone used one on their bike.
Apparently mine has stopped working and even replacing it shows that it still won't work
Either it's the sending unit or the wiring.
I replaced the SU with one that I had that I think was good but nada.
Can only trace the wire to where it disappears into the harness.
Tried hooking up another OEM gauge directly but still get no reading.
Apparently mine has stopped working and even replacing it shows that it still won't work
Either it's the sending unit or the wiring.
I replaced the SU with one that I had that I think was good but nada.
Can only trace the wire to where it disappears into the harness.
Tried hooking up another OEM gauge directly but still get no reading.
- Maz
- Posts: 785
- Joined: Tue May 19, 2015 4:43 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Motorcycle: 1975 GL1000K1
1976 CB500T
1979 CB750L
1990 Yamaha FJ1200
1993 Suzuki GS500E
Re: Aftermarket temp gauge
SnoBrdr, you've diagnosed the fault. It's unlikely to be the gauge, as you've replaced it. It's unlikely to be the sender, as you've replaced it. Unlikely to be a bad ground, as the sender is brass and screws into the motor. Must be the wiring. Pull the wire off the sender and ground it. If the gauge doesn't read max, the wire is broken/disconnected somewhere. Run a temporary wire from sender to gauge to prove this.
Maz
Maz
Ironically, Common Sense is the LEAST common of all senses!
- SnoBrdr
- Posts: 784
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:01 am
- Location: Providence, Rhode Island
- Motorcycle: 1978 GL 1000
131K Original Owner
Re: Aftermarket temp gauge
I did try this but I may have done it improperly.Maz wrote:SnoBrdr, you've diagnosed the fault. It's unlikely to be the gauge, as you've replaced it. It's unlikely to be the sender, as you've replaced it. Unlikely to be a bad ground, as the sender is brass and screws into the motor. Must be the wiring. Pull the wire off the sender and ground it. If the gauge doesn't read max, the wire is broken/disconnected somewhere. Run a temporary wire from sender to gauge to prove this.
Maz
I will give it a try when I get back from a short trip.
You'd think it was fairly simple as there are so few things that can actually go wrong.
- Maz
- Posts: 785
- Joined: Tue May 19, 2015 4:43 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Motorcycle: 1975 GL1000K1
1976 CB500T
1979 CB750L
1990 Yamaha FJ1200
1993 Suzuki GS500E
Re: Aftermarket temp gauge
You're right..It is simple - Power into gauge - Wire out of gauge to sender - Sender body grounded. That's it! The sender is just a resistor that varies with heat. The power to the gauge comes from ignition switch, via the 7v regulator so, with ignition on, check for power (7v) between the gauge and ground.SnoBrdr wrote:I did try this but I may have done it improperly.Maz wrote:SnoBrdr, you've diagnosed the fault. It's unlikely to be the gauge, as you've replaced it. It's unlikely to be the sender, as you've replaced it. Unlikely to be a bad ground, as the sender is brass and screws into the motor. Must be the wiring. Pull the wire off the sender and ground it. If the gauge doesn't read max, the wire is broken/disconnected somewhere. Run a temporary wire from sender to gauge to prove this.
Maz
I will give it a try when I get back from a short trip.
You'd think it was fairly simple as there are so few things that can actually go wrong.
Maz
Ironically, Common Sense is the LEAST common of all senses!
- SnoBrdr
- Posts: 784
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:01 am
- Location: Providence, Rhode Island
- Motorcycle: 1978 GL 1000
131K Original Owner
Re: Aftermarket temp gauge
I checked the 7 volt regulator and tested fine.Maz wrote:You're right..It is simple - Power into gauge - Wire out of gauge to sender - Sender body grounded. That's it! The sender is just a resistor that varies with heat. The power to the gauge comes from ignition switch, via the 7v regulator so, with ignition on, check for power (7v) between the gauge and ground.SnoBrdr wrote:I did try this but I may have done it improperly.Maz wrote:SnoBrdr, you've diagnosed the fault. It's unlikely to be the gauge, as you've replaced it. It's unlikely to be the sender, as you've replaced it. Unlikely to be a bad ground, as the sender is brass and screws into the motor. Must be the wiring. Pull the wire off the sender and ground it. If the gauge doesn't read max, the wire is broken/disconnected somewhere. Run a temporary wire from sender to gauge to prove this.
Maz
I will give it a try when I get back from a short trip.
You'd think it was fairly simple as there are so few things that can actually go wrong.
Maz
- SnoBrdr
- Posts: 784
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:01 am
- Location: Providence, Rhode Island
- Motorcycle: 1978 GL 1000
131K Original Owner
Re: Aftermarket temp gauge
Bad thing is, I can';t even find the part on the parts fiche.
I see the other sending units but not the one for the temp gauge.
Not even sure what it is called.
I see the other sending units but not the one for the temp gauge.
Not even sure what it is called.
- Maz
- Posts: 785
- Joined: Tue May 19, 2015 4:43 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Motorcycle: 1975 GL1000K1
1976 CB500T
1979 CB750L
1990 Yamaha FJ1200
1993 Suzuki GS500E
Re: Aftermarket temp gauge
The temperature sender is on the right side of the thermostat housing, behind the thermal fan switch. It has a single wire coming off it AND it's a pig to get to!! You can just see it in the picture to the rear of the fan switch.SnoBrdr wrote:Bad thing is, I can';t even find the part on the parts fiche.
I see the other sending units but not the one for the temp gauge.
Not even sure what it is called.
Maz
Ironically, Common Sense is the LEAST common of all senses!
- SnoBrdr
- Posts: 784
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:01 am
- Location: Providence, Rhode Island
- Motorcycle: 1978 GL 1000
131K Original Owner
Re: Aftermarket temp gauge
Wait, what ?Maz wrote:The temperature sender is on the right side of the thermostat housing, behind the thermal fan switch. It has a single wire coming off it AND it's a pig to get to!! You can just see it in the picture to the rear of the fan switch.SnoBrdr wrote:Bad thing is, I can';t even find the part on the parts fiche.
I see the other sending units but not the one for the temp gauge.
Not even sure what it is called.
Maz
Maybe I have been playing with the WRONG switch.
The one I have been messing with is right under the carbs on top of the block with a single wire on it.
- Maz
- Posts: 785
- Joined: Tue May 19, 2015 4:43 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Motorcycle: 1975 GL1000K1
1976 CB500T
1979 CB750L
1990 Yamaha FJ1200
1993 Suzuki GS500E
Re: Aftermarket temp gauge
Errrr, that would be the oil pressure switch.
Maz
Maz
Ironically, Common Sense is the LEAST common of all senses!
- SnoBrdr
- Posts: 784
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:01 am
- Location: Providence, Rhode Island
- Motorcycle: 1978 GL 1000
131K Original Owner
Re: Aftermarket temp gauge
I fixed it.Maz wrote:Errrr, that would be the oil pressure switch.
Maz
The wire had fallen off due to work that had been done late last year on the thermo fan switch.
I saw that the lead had been shortened as it had wrapped itself around the harness.
I also found that by removing the horn and the 2 17mm bolts holding on the black motor/frame mounts that there is enough room once the black mount is moved forward to easily get a swivel on the socket.
- Maz
- Posts: 785
- Joined: Tue May 19, 2015 4:43 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Motorcycle: 1975 GL1000K1
1976 CB500T
1979 CB750L
1990 Yamaha FJ1200
1993 Suzuki GS500E
Re: Aftermarket temp gauge
Glad you sorted it. I had to replace both of those 17mm bolts on mine . When I tried to remove them, they both sheared off! Had to drill them out and insert Helicoils. Luckily the motor was coming out anyway , cos there's no room to drill them while the motor's in the frame.SnoBrdr wrote:I fixed it.Maz wrote:Errrr, that would be the oil pressure switch.
Maz
The wire had fallen off due to work that had been done late last year on the thermo fan switch.
I saw that the lead had been shortened as it had wrapped itself around the harness.
I also found that by removing the horn and the 2 17mm bolts holding on the black motor/frame mounts that there is enough room once the black mount is moved forward to easily get a swivel on the socket.
Maz
Ironically, Common Sense is the LEAST common of all senses!