Ady's European Tour

[sapper]

Well done Ady and I really enjoued reading your posts, shame about the ending but in reflection ..... It's about the journey not the destination, and what a journey you had!!!!
Would be really interested if a solution could be found for the lack of a oil pressure warning system (lamp or a guage) as I believe the oil is the life blood of the engine and should be monitored more so than the alternator for example. So, bigfatcat. if you do come up with a solution please keep us posted.

[ellrider]

Well done Ady and I really enjoued reading your posts, shame about the ending but in reflection ..... It's about the journey not the destination, and what a journey you had!!!!
Would be really interested if a solution could be found for the lack of a oil pressure warning system (lamp or a guage) as I believe the oil is the life blood of the engine and should be monitored more so than the alternator for example. So, bigfatcat. if you do come up with a solution please keep us posted.

The Aprilia 600 engine I'm using has an oil pressure switch fitted to the oil filter cover as standard so will fit the MT engines, only need a wire and a lamp.

Do the CCM's have the same?

[woodruff]

No, not that I have come accross. I wonder what the aprilla cover costs new....?

Im not sure how much a pressure switch on the filter cover will tell you about the overall oiling internaly.

Has anyone experianced a broken pump? we have had air blocks/blockages ect.

How many seized lumps have been traced to oil system failire rather than lack of oil or overheating/poor jetting/air leaks/timing/basic servicing.

[ellrider]

Im not sure how much a pressure switch on the filter cover will tell you about the overall oiling internaly.

The oil is pumped through the oil filter housing on route to engine and transmission, so the pressure can be read at this point.

[/quote]
Has anyone experianced a broken pump? we have had air blocks/blockages ect.[/quote]

I have heard of the nylon drive gears breaking.

Just checked that the Aprilia 350 also has the pressure switch fitted.

[woodruff]

The oil is pumped through the oil filter housing on route to engine and transmission, so the pressure can be read at this point.

This Is sort of my point, A pressure switch there does not tell you the oil is getting to where it needs to be, also due to the oil in frame design the oil level would need to get very low before the pump became starved and there was low pressure.

I am not rubbishing the idea and would fit one, just not sure what it would change if I was in the middle of nowhere.

[ellrider]

The oil is pumped through the oil filter housing on route to engine and transmission, so the pressure can be read at this point.

This Is sort of my point, A pressure switch there does not tell you the oil is getting to where it needs to be, also due to the oil in frame design the oil level would need to get very low before the pump became starved and there was low pressure.

I am not rubbishing the idea and would fit one, just not sure what it would change if I was in the middle of nowhere.

????? It tells you the pump is working and there is oil there. Doesn't matter where the oil is stored, if is not pumping then it's not doing anything.

Whether you are in the middle of nowhere or not if the oil light comes on you have to stop. You then top up with the oil you're carrying, if this doesn't help then you get recovered. If you are it the middle of nowhere and you run out of oil or the pump fails and you don't have an oil light then you seize.

[ZIP TIE]

I wonder what the aprilla cover costs new....?

You use the standard oil filter cover, it is just a pressure switch that screws into the hole in the cover with the grub screw/headless bolt in. Lots of places stock them it doesn't need to be an Aprillia one.

[woodruff]

Ah thanks zip, sorry I was thinking of a modded coverplate.

Mark, I dont want to argue I like the idea of a pressure switch.

If the oil pressure light is not on does that mean...

You have the correct amount of oil - no
That the oil from the pump is getting everywhere is should - no
That you are not overheating - no
That you can keep going despite the rattling, clunking and banging - no

If MTs came with a oil pressure switch as standard there would be less servicing and more 'I did stop once the light came on' (after I ran low on oil, overheated, and discovered soft seizure)

Or maybe I am just a cantankerous cynical argumentative southerner

[bigfatcat]

There is no method I know of of detecting most of your concerns, but regular servicing should mean they should be less likely.
Fitting an exhaust temperature sensor (thermocouple+reader) to detect lean running is an idea though...
However, an oil pump failure or hose coming off can happen very quickly without obvious warning, and trash a perfectly good engine in seconds, requiring a complete rebuild. So I want to know as soon as it happens (why engines usually have them). My first thought was to have a boss welded to the oil cover plate and fit another bike's pressure switch (or even a sensor), but if there is already one that fits the hole then that is obviously a better solution & I will look into getting the PN. I will wire it into a yellow lamp in place of the 'lamps on' lamp.

You have the correct amount of oil - I do regular level checks & check flow too
That the oil from the pump is getting everywhere is should - regular servicing & filters should minimise
That you are not overheating - see thermocouple comment though you can usually tell just by the way the bike performs if there is a problem, and I regularly clean the fins/inspect the plug - this is an aircooled engine (i.e. no worries about fluid & pumping)
That you can keep going despite the rattling, clunking and banging - well I always stop and determine the cause, usually either the pulley coming loose or something else come loose. If it is tappet based I check gaps. If it is regular engine related, then may as well proceed but slowly/ low torque as it will most likely need a rebuild anyway. You just have to make the call at the time, but oil pressure low WILL destroy a good engine when it may just need a hose reconnecting.

[woodruff]

BFC, I agree with everything you have said and Ellriders comments (not often you can say that)

I am not at odds with any warning system and as my comments show are championing regular maintenence and common sense. You are right Its not possible to monitor everything thats going on and the MT is uncluttered when it comes to gadgets.

Ady was unfortunate in his mishaps, and I am not for a second suggesting it was his fault in any way Pete Lows 640 tale shows that even with the carefullest preperation and precaution things happen.

I should have kept my mouth shut

I live but dont seem to learn.....sorry for screwing up the thread Ady