Wanted '80 XJ650 oil level guage

Looking for an oil level guage for my 1980 XJ650. I'd like to avoid paying over $100 for a new one, or buying used from eBay and getting another like mine. (technically 'good' but super sensitive, makes it hard to start my bike)
If anyone has a used guage that's known to be good for sale or a new one for a decent price, please hit me up.
Thanks

 

What do you mean by super sensitive? That is a simple float switch and should either work, or not work. Have you checked for a loose wire?

 

When I go to start the bike, the oil level light will usually come on and prevent me from starting the bike until I get the angle just right. I have lean the bike a little to either side until I can get it at an angle where the light doesn't come on. I'm probably not explaining that very well...

I haven't removed it to check it out, but yes, I did check the connections and clean it up. It seems to have gotten worse over time, keeping the oil level at maximum used to keep it from doing this as often.
It mostly does it when it's cold, after its been ridden it usually starts right up without that guage causing problems. When the bike is running, the light doesn't come on, either. It used to come on at severe lean angles

 

IT may just be gummed up with sludge. Drop the oil, remove the sensor (it seals with an o-ring and a gasket, so you may want to get replacements) and clean it up with the solvent of your choice. You can then test it before refitting it. You can bypass the sensor by joining both wires together until you have the time to take the sensor out and check it over.

 

Good point, sludge inside mucking it up hadn't occurred to me.

I'll add that to the winter 'to-do' list ;-)

 

With your bike on the center stand, look at the oil level window and the level should be at the very top of the glass. If its 1/2 way or less that will cause some of your problems.

 

Sounds like you need to pull it and clean it.. I think it's just a float, really

 

My issue here is the bike not starting sometimes, when I hit the starter button nothing happens except the oil light comes on. I ASSumed that the oil level sensor was part of the starting safety circuit since the light comes on when the bike doesn't start. That's why I thought the oil level sensor was bad, and preventing my bike from starting. Now I realize that it isn't, so the oil level and all that is irrelevant in this case.

So, the oil level sensor isn't the problem, I need to troubleshoot the starting circuit.

Thanks all

 

Well, the oil light should come on you push the button, but should go out as the bike starts.... Iirc. If the light comes on, but there's no starter action.... I'd suspect something in the starter circuit/wiring/safety relay/safety switch stuff more than I would the oil level sensor. Maybe the neutral safety switch, too.....
Guess we'll have to work through this one

 

Yup, the light comes on whenever the starter button is pressed whether the bike starts or not, and goes out when the bike starts, or when I let off the starter button if it doesn't start. So it is operating correctly?

This is my understanding of the procedure that the service manual lists for checking the starting circuit; check the starter relay by trying to start the bike in neutral, then in gear with the clutch pulled in, making sure that the relay clicks either way. No click, starter relay is the suspect. If the bike starts in gear with the clutch pulled, but not in neutral, the neutral switch is suspect. Starting in neutral but not in gear with clutch pulled would make the clutch lever switch the suspect. I almost always start the bike in neutral, so I'm definitely interested to see if I have the same problem when it's in gear.

The manual doesn't say anything about checking the starter button or kill switch first. Since pressing the starter button results in the oil light coming on whether the bike starts or not, the starter button or kill switch shouldn't be the problem? Or should I check and clean these too just to be thorough?

 

Yes, it is working correctly as the starter button provides a path to ground for the oil light through the diode block. That same ground should be applied to one end of the starter solenoid, which has a very distinctive clunking noise if it is engaging. However, if there is a fault in the safety circuit (neutral or clutch only in your case), then the starter cutoff relay will not be engaged, and no 12 volts will be present to engage the starter solenoid, and subsequently the starter.

Trying it with the clutch pulled in would be a good idea, as the clutch switch provides a direct path to ground on one end of the starter cutoff relay coil, whereas the neutral switch utilizes the diode block to pull this point low.

Does the neutral light illuminate?

Do you hear any noise when the starter button is depressed?

If you take the bike out of neutral, and pull in on the clutch lever you should hear the starter cutoff relay engage and make a small clicking noise. Same is true when switching into neutral, but that makes more noise and sometimes makes it difficult to hear the faint click of the starter cutoff relay. If you can hear the starter cutoff relay clicking, and when you push the start button you don't hear the starter solenoid clunk, then odds are the plunger inside the solenoid is hung up. This link covers testing those parts individually:

http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/how-to-test-your-starter-circuit.7828/

 

Great info! Thank you. My service manual doesn't include the procedure for testing the individual components, so this will be very helpful