1978 kz650 Oil pressure warning

MOT booked for tomorrow so took the bike for it's first run to clear the
cobwebs after a long standing. After about six or so miles the oil pressure
warning light lit up and stayed on. Engine sounded fine, no additional
vibrations and continued to run smoothly even at idle. Is this as
disasterous as it first appears or is it simply a buggered oil pressure
warning indicator? Is there a way of checking this out without major
surgery? Oil good quality and levels fine. Changed it at the weekend.

martinski wrote:
> MOT booked for tomorrow so took the bike for it's first run to clear
> the cobwebs after a long standing. After about six or so miles the
> oil pressure warning light lit up and stayed on. Engine sounded fine,
> no additional vibrations and continued to run smoothly even at idle.
> Is this as disasterous as it first appears or is it simply a buggered
> oil pressure warning indicator? Is there a way of checking this out
> without major surgery? Oil good quality and levels fine. Changed it
> at the weekend.

Have you left out (or put in the wrong order ) the spring and washers
related to the oil filter? Just seems coincidental that this has
happened after an oil change?

Its been a long time since I changed a z650 filter but I seem to recall
a spring and washer to keep the filter pressed inside the sump.

see

http://tinyurl.com/34nnn

For what they cost I'd be tempted to try another oil pressure switch.

The oil pressure on the z650 is higher than the z900/z1000 range cos the
650 is plain bearing crank and the bigger engines are roller bearing
cranks.

--
Steve Parry
K100RS SE
F650

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk

On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 21:27:38 -0000, "martinski"
<martin.george1@ntlworld.com> wrote:

>MOT booked for tomorrow so took the bike for it's first run to clear the
>cobwebs after a long standing. After about six or so miles the oil pressure
>warning light lit up and stayed on. Engine sounded fine, no additional
>vibrations and continued to run smoothly even at idle. Is this as
>disasterous as it first appears or is it simply a buggered oil pressure
>warning indicator? Is there a way of checking this out without major
>surgery? Oil good quality and levels fine. Changed it at the weekend.

IIRC, the oil pressure switch is located inside the points cover
housing. It is designed to 'fail safe' as follows :

- when the wire connected to the pressure switch is earthed, the oil
light comes on.
- when the ignition is on, and the engine isn't running, the internals
of the switch connect the wire to the crankcase into which it is
threaded - the light is on
- when the engine is running, the oil pressure moves the internals in
the switch to break the circuit. The light goes out.
- if the connector on the switch comes loose and touches the
crankcase, the light comes on. Bet this is what's happened to you :-)

If not, you can unscrew the pressure switch from the crankcase and
test it quite easily.

hth
--
Champ : Old enough to know
GSX-R 1000, GPz 750 turbo, ZX7RR Endurance Racer
GYASB#0 BotToS#2 BOTAFO(T|F)#35 UKRMFBC#2 IHABWTMMJ#3 MCT#5 WG*#1 BONY#40 DFV#8 IbW#17 SBS#34
Racing : www.team-ukrm.com. Vanity Publishing : www.champ.org.uk

On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 22:39:13 +0000, Champ <ukrm@champ.org.uk> wrote:

>- if the connector on the switch comes loose and touches the
>crankcase, the light comes on. Bet this is what's happened to you :-)

Or the insulation to the wire chafes through, allowing the wire to
touch earth and the light comes on. Very common on older bikes,
especially as the wire drifts from its mountings and vibrates or gets
too close to hot bits and gets brittle.

--
Pip, Hairy Gfedcker. RF 900RR, Ruff and Rattly.
WS* DFWAG#0 IbW#27* DIAABTCOD#15 GP#0 EKP FUB#4 MKA+E#3
ANORAK#8 MIRTTH#15 BOTAFOT/F#47/34a BONY#13 KotMIB# <space>
UKRMRM#14 TWA#2

"Pip" wrote:
>
> >- if the connector on the switch comes loose and touches the
> >crankcase, the light comes on. Bet this is what's happened to you :-)

Spot on Pip. Wrapped the connector with insulating tape and all hunky dory
once again. Thanks for the advice. By the way, bike sailed through the MOT
so all set for some good biking.

On Thu, 19 Feb 2004 18:51:35 -0000, "martinski"
<martin.george1@ntlworld.com> wrote:

>
>"Pip" wrote:
>>
>> >- if the connector on the switch comes loose and touches the
>> >crankcase, the light comes on. Bet this is what's happened to you :-)
>
>Spot on Pip. Wrapped the connector with insulating tape and all hunky dory
>once again. Thanks for the advice. By the way, bike sailed through the MOT
>so all set for some good biking.
>

<high-fives Pip>

Are we good or what?
--
Champ : Old enough to know
GSX-R 1000, GPz 750 turbo, ZX7RR Endurance Racer
GYASB#0 BotToS#2 BOTAFO(T|F)#35 UKRMFBC#2 IHABWTMMJ#3 MCT#5 WG*#1 BONY#40 DFV#8 IbW#17 SBS#34
Racing : www.team-ukrm.com. Vanity Publishing : www.champ.org.uk

On Thu, 19 Feb 2004 19:53:20 +0000, Champ <ukrm@champ.org.uk> wrote:

>On Thu, 19 Feb 2004 18:51:35 -0000, "martinski"
><martin.george1@ntlworld.com> wrote:

>>Spot on Pip. Wrapped the connector with insulating tape and all hunky dory
>>once again. Thanks for the advice. By the way, bike sailed through the MOT
>>so all set for some good biking.

><high-fives Pip>
>
>Are we good or what?

Excellent. You give the pertinent advice, I stand around mumbling and
get the credit. I can live with that if you can ;-)

--
Pip, Hairy Gfedcker. RF 900RR, Ruff and Rattly.
WS* DFWAG#0 IbW#27* DIAABTCOD#15 GP#0 EKP FUB#4 MKA+E#3
ANORAK#8 MIRTTH#15 BOTAFOT/F#47/34a BONY#13 KotMIB# <space>
UKRMRM#14 TWA#2

On Thu, 19 Feb 2004 20:33:31 +0000, Pip <pip@ukrm.net> wrote:

>On Thu, 19 Feb 2004 19:53:20 +0000, Champ <ukrm@champ.org.uk> wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 19 Feb 2004 18:51:35 -0000, "martinski"
>><martin.george1@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>
>>>Spot on Pip. Wrapped the connector with insulating tape and all hunky dory
>>>once again. Thanks for the advice. By the way, bike sailed through the MOT
>>>so all set for some good biking.
>
>><high-fives Pip>
>>
>>Are we good or what?
>
>Excellent. You give the pertinent advice, I stand around mumbling and
>get the credit. I can live with that if you can ;-)

S'ok, we'll work a tag system
--
Champ : Old enough to know
GSX-R 1000, GPz 750 turbo, ZX7RR Endurance Racer
GYASB#0 BotToS#2 BOTAFO(T|F)#35 UKRMFBC#2 IHABWTMMJ#3 MCT#5 WG*#1 BONY#40 DFV#8 IbW#17 SBS#34
Racing : www.team-ukrm.com. Vanity Publishing : www.champ.org.uk

	#1
martinski	1978 kz650 Oil pressure warning MOT booked for tomorrow so took the bike for it's first run to clear the cobwebs after a long standing. After about six or so miles the oil pressure warning light lit up and stayed on. Engine sounded fine, no additional vibrations and continued to run smoothly even at idle. Is this as disasterous as it first appears or is it simply a buggered oil pressure warning indicator? Is there a way of checking this out without major surgery? Oil good quality and levels fine. Changed it at the weekend.

	#2
Steve Parry	Re: 1978 kz650 Oil pressure warning martinski wrote: > MOT booked for tomorrow so took the bike for it's first run to clear > the cobwebs after a long standing. After about six or so miles the > oil pressure warning light lit up and stayed on. Engine sounded fine, > no additional vibrations and continued to run smoothly even at idle. > Is this as disasterous as it first appears or is it simply a buggered > oil pressure warning indicator? Is there a way of checking this out > without major surgery? Oil good quality and levels fine. Changed it > at the weekend. Have you left out (or put in the wrong order ) the spring and washers related to the oil filter? Just seems coincidental that this has happened after an oil change? Its been a long time since I changed a z650 filter but I seem to recall a spring and washer to keep the filter pressed inside the sump. see http://tinyurl.com/34nnn For what they cost I'd be tempted to try another oil pressure switch. The oil pressure on the z650 is higher than the z900/z1000 range cos the 650 is plain bearing crank and the bigger engines are roller bearing cranks. -- Steve Parry K100RS SE F650 http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk

	#3
Champ	Re: 1978 kz650 Oil pressure warning On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 21:27:38 -0000, "martinski" <martin.george1@ntlworld.com> wrote: >MOT booked for tomorrow so took the bike for it's first run to clear the >cobwebs after a long standing. After about six or so miles the oil pressure >warning light lit up and stayed on. Engine sounded fine, no additional >vibrations and continued to run smoothly even at idle. Is this as >disasterous as it first appears or is it simply a buggered oil pressure >warning indicator? Is there a way of checking this out without major >surgery? Oil good quality and levels fine. Changed it at the weekend. IIRC, the oil pressure switch is located inside the points cover housing. It is designed to 'fail safe' as follows : - when the wire connected to the pressure switch is earthed, the oil light comes on. - when the ignition is on, and the engine isn't running, the internals of the switch connect the wire to the crankcase into which it is threaded - the light is on - when the engine is running, the oil pressure moves the internals in the switch to break the circuit. The light goes out. - if the connector on the switch comes loose and touches the crankcase, the light comes on. Bet this is what's happened to you :-) If not, you can unscrew the pressure switch from the crankcase and test it quite easily. hth -- Champ : Old enough to know GSX-R 1000, GPz 750 turbo, ZX7RR Endurance Racer GYASB#0 BotToS#2 BOTAFO(T\|F)#35 UKRMFBC#2 IHABWTMMJ#3 MCT#5 WG*#1 BONY#40 DFV#8 IbW#17 SBS#34 Racing : www.team-ukrm.com. Vanity Publishing : www.champ.org.uk