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Oil light question

Discussion in 'Sport Classic' started by triang, Feb 12, 2013.

  1. To cut a long story short I have sinned and managed to get my SC sodden whilst riding in the rain ( and wet snow) and it stayed with snow over it all day and was only cleared much later that evening when I cold water hosed it and dried it off.

    The next day - oil light stayed on permanently.

    Since the engine ran ok with no noises and the oil was at maximum I suspected water ingress into the oil pressure switch.

    After drying switch, applying WD40 and jiggling...oil light came on as normal....:upyeah:

    Oil light goes out after 1/2 second once engine turning as normal but it *fades* out rather than just goes out - a bit like a lightbulb with a dimmer switch compared to a normal on-off switch.

    Trouble is I haven't had her long enough to judge if this is normal...

    Is it?

    Thanks in advance :biggrin:
     
  2. Hi, not had this problem with the GT but I had exactly the same thing with my S2R Monster after it bucketed down a few times, think they are very similar switches and clocks on the S2R to the SC, I took the switch off, cleaned it but it still was acting a bit strangley, replaced it in the end, wasn't much money, 20 quid or so.
     
  3. Wow I never saw it from that point of view - good point.:smile:
     
  4. If its anything like the multistrada the water has got into the instrument panel and is shorting things out , if it stays in there the corrosion makes it just get worse and on the multi the bike eventualy stops.

    My advice would be remove the clocks and some how split them open ...gently.....and dry off ....on a radiator or some such place.

    I have just had to do it with mine.....dried it then greased the silicone seal and then for good measure silicone RTV (black) around the joint line....I'm now on my 3rd set of clocks.
     
  5. Blimey and I thought the days of dodgy Italian electrics were long gone (my 1976 Moto Guzzi T3 springs to mind - but my 1979 Guzzi Le Mans with Bosch electronics was fine) ... time to get out with the hair dryer,,
     
  6. Ducati might charge you £20 for a sensor but you can use a car type unit, several VW/Audi etc use the same spec and a compatible unit can be bought for less than a fiver, just need to match the threads (M10x1mm) and the pressure rating.

    I believe this should be the same spec; Audi A3 Ford Galaxy Seat Ibiza VW Golf Polo Passat Oil Pressure Switch 12930 | eBay

    That said if you suffer a catastrophic loss of oil pressure you'll know about it anyway...
     
  7. VW Beatle (old one) aka Hitler mobile has the same sensor. My one always lights up when I start the bike and I have to idle for 15 - 20s for it to go away and not be seen again until next time I stop for longer then a day.
     
  8. Just as an update - the oil light switch continues to play silly buggers which adds a "what will it do this time?" element to my rides which reminds me of my first big bike - a 1976 Guzzi Californian, ex Norfolk police with a huge Rickman fairing on it and Magneti Marelli electronics.

    Now it just will not come on at all (as opposed to staying on all the time ) so a strip down of the switch, good cleanout and retest is on the cards with maybe a complete replacement if it's buggered.

    This time I'll smother all leads and connections with ignition sealer.

    Ah well it certainly adds "character". Like starting an affair with a gorgeous Italian woman only to have her unexpectedly stand you up and then throw some dinner plates at you in a restaurant.

    I like it in a perverse sort of way :biggrin:
     
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