The International CBX Owners Association

How many amps does the alternator put out?
I am getting a ammeter and don't want one with too high a range or too little, right now I have a VDO 30 amp in the cart.

'The book' says it's .35kw or 350 watts which at 14 volts translates to 25 amps

Whether or not you'll ever see that number depends a good deal on the condition of the clutch plates and how much spring pressure is on them . . . . I kinda doubt it

A 30 amp meter is probably about the best 'fit' for it that you're likely to find. A shunt ammeter which reads the voltage drop across a low resistance shunt would be the best choice - That way you're not running big heavy wires through the steering neck up to your 'dash'. Shunt meters are actually millivolt meters (perhaps 50 millivolts full scale to indicate 30 amps) so they can be wired up with really small gauge wire . . . . the only heavy wire is to the shunt which can be located near the battery. I doubt VDO offers a shunted meter in the 30 amp range though

You're gonna have more gauges on that motorcycle than many 18 wheelers pretty soon ;)

Don

I limit the extra gauges to three per bike, this would be for the 80 this time.
Since the voltmeter works sort of like an ammeter I guess I will forget the ammeter and just install the oil pres' and temp' and clock like the 79.
Thanks.

Thats cool,, my 81 prolink has an electric clock and altimeter mounted factory in the fairing.

You can not have too much stuff to look at unless your in Ocean City Maryland and then there's the side walk distractions, some of them rather racy.

Later, George in Delaware

twinegar wrote:I limit the extra gauges to three per bike, this would be for the 80 this time.
Since the voltmeter works sort of like an ammeter I guess I will forget the ammeter and just install the oil pres' and temp' and clock like the 79.
Thanks.

I really like the extra gauges. What brand and part numbers did you use? Did you have to fabricate the mount or were they available?

Here are the part numbers:
VDO MOUNTING CAN #240016
VDO OIL PRESSURE GAUGE #350104
VDO OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT #3103032
VDO OIL TEMPERATURE GAUGE #310106
VDO OIL TEMPERATURE SENDER #323057D0
VDO CLOCK #370955
Here is a page of gauges to look through and remember that sending unit values have to match the gauge value. I just bought two of the VDO marine clocks 3701101 because they are sealed unlike the other ones and have the light socket on the back and come with little red bulb covers that give a red backlight at night like the oem gauges.
http://www.spookytoms.com/SpookyTom-CBX-80-1-PN03.html
http://www.spookytoms.com/SpookyTom-CBX-80-1-PN04.html
The mounting cans come with a bracket that I flattened out and they bolted right under the left Speedo and right tach bolts. The clock can mounted to a metal cross member made from a piece of scrap metal. The cross member mounts under the inside bolts with a hole in the center for the can bracket to mount to. I bought 18 gauge auto wiring from O'Reilly in different colors to make up the harness and used that black plastic harness cover to make a neat job.
Here are some pictures of the underside of the engine showing several oil journal caps that can be removed to place the sending units. TAS on Ebay sells the fitting that screws into the engine and has a threaded hole that will except the sending units. I plan to mount the harness wiring to the sending unit and then dip the assembly in PERFORMIX PLASTI DIP tool handle dip to keep it dry.
http://www.spookytoms.com/SpookyTom-CBX ... OPTT1.html

I appreciate the part numbers, but the numbers for the sending units are not coming up right. Where did you order from?

Thanks

Ebay and Summit.

I finally got the gauges on order (clock & temp). I can't seem to find the adapter on ebay. What should I type in for the search?

Contact these guys and ask them to list a couple and ask about a discount for two. The fitting is manufactured by them so they can answer any questions you might have. I haven't tried them yet so do ask questions.
http://stores.ebay.com/TAS-Classic-MotorSports?_rdc=1
Please post pictures or send pictures to me so we can see your job and I would like to post pictures at my site if you don't mind.

I tried hooking up everything this weekend. The oil galley fitting from TAS did not fit. The thread diameter was too big. I'll be contacting them. The clock is doing funny things. With the running lights off, the clock works fine. When the running lights are on, the clock stops. The backlight doesn't turn on either. I did bench check the light and it does work. The clock is hooked to the battery side of the starter solenoid and the backlight is hooked up to the the little yellow running light in the headlight. Any suggestions would help.

Samelak wrote:I tried hooking up everything this weekend. The oil galley fitting from TAS did not fit. The thread diameter was too big. Any suggestions would help.

I've never seen a TAS listing for a fitting for the lower gallery plugs - Everything I've seen from them is meant to install a mechanical gauge in the upper gallery, hanging off the side of the engine

When I installed the oil temp gauge on my bike, I drilled and tapped the lower gallery plug to fit the sender - I didn't buy anything except a VDO sender with 1/8th pipe threads. It's been on the bike now for a year or more and works perfectly

After I screwed the sender into the Honda cap, I filled the inside gap remaining between the two with Marine-Tex epoxy, so there's no chance or it leaking or cracking. Use a 1/8th inch drill bit, get it *exactly* centered in the cap and then enlarge the hole slowly (using incrementally larger drill bits) until you get it to a size you can run the 1/8th pipe tap into - Hint . . . . drill your hole a little oversized so the tap isn't cutting 100% threads and you won't break the cap - Don't use teflon tape or anything else in the threads when you install the sender . . . . it's an electrical connection - The epoxy will seal everything

Don

Edit - I'd upload a picture, but that's not working for me just now - PM me if you need a pic of the installed sender and I'll send it to you

I feel bad for suggesting Tas but they assured me it was right. When you contact them see if they would be interested in having a lower gallery plug as I have an extra case and would be happy to send it to them so they can replicate it. I have bought tank emblem screws from them before that didn't fit either but have also bought a lot of things in the Honda bag that did. You can get Marine Tex on Ebay, the sending unit at Summit or Summit Ebay and then just take the sending unit to a hardware store so they can match up a drill bit and tap. It's easy stuff to do as I did the same when I replaced the rivets in my petcock with screws so I could replace the rubber valve.

On the wiring issue I am not sure why you are having a problem. I connected my clock + directly to the battery terminal with a ring terminal and the back light to the back light wire for the speedometer with one of those plastic crimp pieces for connecting a trailer harness. Don't forget the black ribbed harness enclosure from the auto parts store, it keeps your wiring together and makes for a neat job.

Good luck in your efforts to sort out things with TAS....
They have grown too big in terms of doing ebay business to give a damn. Check out their feedback. They don't care about the occasional negative feedback.
I won an auction of exhaust valves. It was for one. I asked if I could buy 12. Matthew e-mailed me and said yes. We negotiated back and forth and then agreed upon a price.
It took about 3 weeks until I finally received 6.
I tried to remedy the situation by sending e-mails. About five of them.
Finally, the magic 30 day deadline approached and I filed a Paypal dispute for them to hold the payment.
In the dispute I stated I wanted my parts.
Nothing ever happened after that, so I asked for my money back after I returned the six valves.
Scratched TAS from my list of suppliers.

TAS replied back and said the fitting is intended for the galley on the right side next to the crank cap. I'll probably temp install there, but will make an adapter for the lower galley to hide the sensor later down the road. I just need to find an extra cap to get dimensions from. I'm a machinist by trade and so it shouldn't be difficult to make.