Down under, an idiot and a 400F

Also anyone else running an Acewell gauge I've got some questions:

1. The temp sensor is designed to read the motor. You can buy an attachment to insert into your radiator hoses. Given my bike is air cooled, is there a way of using this as an engine temp sensor?
2. Some items are not required (fuel sensor) do people cut this wiring out or just hide it away?
 
for air cooled bikes, use the spark plug attachment. looks like a big eyelet connector/washer with the wire attached. slide it on the spark plug before installing. It might be an accessory you can order. don't cut the fuel sensor wire. if you are inclined, you can use that as a pseudo voltage gauge with some deep electrical research. (full fuel == full battery).

for the mount height, I agree. mount as low as possible to keep the same profile.
 
I am using the all digital model and I don't have the temp sensor but mine does have the emergency flashers that I am not using I just left the wire since nothing is feeding power to it no big deal.

Took a while to figureout the wiring after running the fuses to the back of th bike an extending certain wire. But mine is now working just no engine yet.
 
Here is Trail Techs sender for the spark plug. I'm sure you could make your own for less than $30.

http://www.trailtech.net/7500-3014.html
 
o1marc said:
Here is Trail Techs sender for the spark plug. I'm sure you could make your own for less than $30.
Click to expand...

You could, but it's not an easy task. Thermal sensor (thermocouple) technology and conductivity is not trivial. The type of metal on the end determines the resistance/degree back to the controller (K type, RTD, etc). The wire itself affects readings. On top of that, you need to weld the tip (sensor area) to the spark plug eyelet. It can't just be crimped or soldered. $25-30 is typical price for thermocouples and it is matched correctly to the reader/display. So, I would shop the Acewell site before Trailtech. I wouldn't assume it is compatible, unless stated so.
 
I think I would fit it as an oil temp gauge, easier to modify one of the gallery plugs
14mm will be too big to fit 400 spark plug
 
Good point. Those thermal sensors for the spark plug are made more for two strokes to monitor head temperature. On these motors, you want to know the oil temp.
 
The Acewell water temp sensor can probably be used to measure oil temp with a suitable adapter to screw into an oil line. We used to have a Daytona brand oil temp gauge on a CB160 and the sensor was bolted into the oil drain plug.
 
teazer said:
The Acewell water temp sensor can probably be used to measure oil temp with a suitable adapter to screw into an oil line. We used to have a Daytona brand oil temp gauge on a CB160 and the sensor was bolted into the oil drain plug.
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking. There are other thread sizes and I was thinking of tapping it into somewhere. My first thought was into the oil drain (either replace the bolt or tap it for the sensor I've already got).

Thoughts?
 
Try it and see. If the drain plug is big enough - sat 12-14mm, you can buy an adapter off the shelf from people like Deemon Tweaks in the UK. I have used a few of theirs in different temperature sensor applications.
 
Only thing I need to consider is the length of the sensor on the end of the bolt. I think the oil pan would be an ideal location as its got some depth and has a reservoir of oil to measure the temp off.
 
It's probably more trouble than it's worth IMO.

I mean, you'll have to work out some way to change the signal to reflect the different ratio of oil temp compared to water temp, and even then you'll just have a gauge without any actual temp ranges.

If if was me I'd get a seperate oil temp gauge if I really wanted to know what the oil temp was.
 
The Acewell sensor is probably rated for say 0-250 degrees F ie 212 plus tolerance, oil is in the same sort of temperature range (0-300). Many automotive temperature gauges are classified as oil or water. That should not be an issue.

One potential issue is if the gauge software has say a 250 degree hard coded alarm. It looks like it will flash -H- if temps exceed 356F which is probably just as well because your motor just melted.

I'd use the Acewell sensor and tap a drain plug if you can't find a suitable Acewell sensor and that would be unusual. You can tap into a an oilway but you have to be very careful not to create an obstruction. And there has to be enough wall thickness to allow the sensor to seal with just a wrap of teflon tape.

If you want to use a CHT thermocouple you should check the specified voltage output to be sure it's similar to the Acewll unit to avoid calibration issues. If Acewll is J type, no good using a K type because they generate different voltages for the same temperature.
 
I'm hoping I can use the sensor for water or oil. Plus I can customise the high or low temp alarm from 122F - 356F.
 
crazypj said:
I think I would fit it as an oil temp gauge, easier to modify one of the gallery plugs
14mm will be too big to fit 400 spark plug
Click to expand...
I used the 14mm as an example, they have other sizes as well.
 
Which ones the gallery plug PJ? I was thinking of replacing the oil drain bolt or drilling and tapping it as there should be clearance for the temp sensor part. Would also be in an oil bath to read the temp properly.
 
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