Topic: Oil temp/level Electronic Dipstick (Read 5946 times)

SteveFLHTK · « **on:** July 30, 2011, 08:23:41 PM »

I've had one of these electronic dipsticks on my bike since my '08 was new. When I traded, I kept the electronic dipstick and moved it to my 2010. Over the years I've heard people complain about these things a lot. Seems in a lot of cases, they last a year or 2 and then become unusable, for whatever reason. Well, mine finally became unusable. Over time, the display was obscured more and more, finally getting to the point it was unreadable. When I did my 15k oil change yesterday, I opted to put the stock dipstick back in.

Well, as some of you know, I'm Jewish. In keeping with that particular stereotype, I'm somewhat hesitant to toss something I paid $150 for, even if it was several years ago. Yesterday, when I finished with the bike, I started to take the dipstick apart. Easy enough to get it partially apart, as you need to do that anyway, to face the thing properly when it's installed. Problem was, the circuit board uses VERY small torx screws to hold it together. Today I stopped by Sears and got a small torx screwdriver set, not being sure of the size (smallest I had was a T-10). Found the right size, took it apart, cleaned out all the oil buildup, put it back together.....works fine now. Screwdrivers cost me $10, a new dipstick (if I got one) would have been $150 (less any discounts). Took me maybe 15 minutes, once I had the right tools.

Moral of the story, don't throw them out if it happens to you...just clean it up.

spydglide · « **Reply #1 on:** July 30, 2011, 09:06:12 PM »

Well, since you got one of the few that ever worked longer than a year, it was definitely worth the repair.

spyder

SteveFLHTK · « **Reply #2 on:** July 30, 2011, 09:12:58 PM »

I have to wonder if the reason they don't work more than a year is the same reason I had to open mine up. They are not very well sealed and they eventually wick oil into the display.

rayson56 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 30, 2011, 09:17:12 PM »

Nice. Thanks for the info Steve

dayne66 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 30, 2011, 09:18:47 PM »

How much to have this done at the dealer?

SteveFLHTK · « **Reply #5 on:** July 30, 2011, 09:20:15 PM »

$149.99 for a new one. I doubt anyone at the Dealer would open one up.

spydglide · « **Reply #6 on:** July 30, 2011, 10:28:48 PM »

There you go Steve....a repair/refurbish business in the making. Big demand and steady profits. You could start collecting the ones around that people are willing to discard due to not working, open em up, fix, re-seal (properly, this time) and sell as refurbished on eBay....I'd buy one from ya.

har. spyder

BUCKNUT GREG · « **Reply #7 on:** July 30, 2011, 10:54:52 PM »

Quote from: spydglide on July 30, 2011, 10:28:48 PM

There you go Steve....a repair/refurbish business in the making. Big demand and steady profits. You could start collecting the ones around that people are willing to discard due to not working, open em up, fix, re-seal (properly, this time) and sell as refurbished on eBay....I'd buy one from ya. har. spyder

Ditto on that

SteveFLHTK · « **Reply #8 on:** July 30, 2011, 10:56:34 PM »

I'd really have to look into resealing them, although it seems like a good layer of silicon around the edge of the board would do it. Ok, so who has one they want to send me? ;-)

spydglide · « **Reply #9 on:** July 30, 2011, 11:06:02 PM »

I'll have to find one Steve. Might take a few days. spyder

mrmagloo · « **Reply #10 on:** July 31, 2011, 09:38:13 AM »

Not thinking, at the end of last year, I put the dipstick face down on a rag at the end of my lift, and just wasn't thinking. When I went to reinstall after the oil change, the entire cap was full of oil. I too took mine apart and carefully disassembled, or dry everything out. I change the battery while I was at it, and it works like new. Pretty easy job.

hooligan · « **Reply #11 on:** July 31, 2011, 11:08:42 AM »

I've cleaned mine a couple of times. Still get an error message once in a while but still works fine.

Badger Mike · « **Reply #12 on:** August 01, 2011, 10:53:23 AM »

Thanks I just bought one yesterday, so this will be helpful in the future!

Jcarl08 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 04, 2011, 06:56:19 AM »

Say gang I purchase my first digital dipstick when they first hit the shelves and it still works. I gave it to my brother-in-law, after purchasing my SERK. The barring base did not work for the screw base 110’s. It still works. I cleaned it out three times replace the battery twice. I found myself cleaning the screw base after I sat it on its face while changing fluids. Now I sit the stick through a plastic bottle opening while servicing the bike. It is so hot in Texas this year I notice an oil spot. Apparently it is due to hard riding in high ambient heat. I will service the stick again when the weather cools.

HDBaggerDave · « **Reply #14 on:** August 04, 2011, 02:25:53 PM »

Darn good info. I know I got one around here someplace. Stopped using it for the same reasons. Next rainy day project.

Thanks,
Dave

tbones · « **Reply #15 on:** August 08, 2011, 06:46:23 PM »

Does anyone know the Torx driver size to remove circuit board ?

LarryB · « **Reply #16 on:** August 08, 2011, 06:47:38 PM »

dave29 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 09, 2011, 12:35:15 PM »

So will the electric temp/oil stick work on a 09 SEUC???

Eqcons · « **Reply #18 on:** August 09, 2011, 02:40:41 PM »

Quote from: dave29 on August 09, 2011, 12:35:15 PM

So will the electric temp/oil stick work on a 09 SEUC???

Works on mine!

Jim

DESERTBEAR54 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 09, 2011, 02:52:59 PM »

Well this is good info but after buying 4 of them and they all quit working at one point and me seeing how hot my oil temps were getting here in the Desert I decided to stick my stock dipstick back in and not support the Moco anymore with the electronic one. Now I have a better piece of mind not knowing what the temp is and I check the oil level when I service the motor with fresh oil every 2500 miles here in the Desert.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #20 on:** August 17, 2011, 01:54:41 PM »

Hey Steve,

Thank you for this thread! I've had my electronic dipstick since I got the SERG in October, '08. (I also had one on my 2004 RG with no issues.) Finally, this one went out from the oil that got into it. The display was half full of oil. I recalled your post, took mine apart and cleaned it. Works fine! I replaced the battery since I had it apart. BTW, I'm not Jewish.

Still don't mind saving money, though. Thanks again.

GK

PS, I used a 2mm flat head on the interior torx screws. The smallest torx I had was 2mm and it was too big. The screws were not very tight so it worked fine.

tennisman · « **Reply #21 on:** August 18, 2011, 06:04:30 PM »

If you haven't already bought one of those LCD gauges, I'd recommend the dash-mounted type which can best be positioned to replace the useless air temp gauge. It uses a sump-mounted sensor which gives a reliable reading. I bought a Fomotion air temp gauge and mounted it just to the side of the windshield in the airstream.
T

Fireguy · « **Reply #22 on:** August 18, 2011, 07:09:39 PM »

I would buy a dash mount gauge in a heartbeat if it matched the other gauges.

spydglide · « **Reply #23 on:** August 18, 2011, 07:34:13 PM »

Quote from: Fireguy on August 18, 2011, 07:09:39 PM

I would buy a dash mount gauge in a heartbeat if it matched the other gauges.

They kinda match. Close, but not exactly. Maybe it won't bother you too much.

har. spyder

tennisman · « **Reply #24 on:** August 18, 2011, 08:32:06 PM »

Quote from: Fireguy on August 18, 2011, 07:09:39 PM

I would buy a dash mount gauge in a heartbeat if it matched the other gauges.

Mine match exactly on my 08

Jcarl08 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 19, 2011, 06:16:11 AM »

Well thanks

because of this thread I went and purchase another DIGITAL DIPSTICK. You guys would not let it rest. There was nothing wrong with the 4-year-old one, but the oil in the viewer chamber once again. I was going to clean it a keep going, than I decided to read the instruction sheet rather than glance over it. I looked at the first one I purchased for the Ultra when they first hit the shelves that were bearing based, and outside of the battery changes and sitting it on its face it is still going strong. Whereas the one for my 08 serk has had a battery change and an oil cleaning, but talking with a few of us shade shade-tree bikers we have drawn additional conclusion.
1.   When you take it apart to replace the battery, replace the crown cap exactly. If you need to mark it; mark it.
2.   The reason the oil continue to surface to the cap is, because we tighten it to tightly. Those of us who had the bearing base model remember we could not over tighten them. I believed that if I did not get my taut-on oil would ooze out. High heat over long periods causes the oil level to rise and unable to vent the pressure it fills the cap and releases though the face and crown. The way it was explained to me, they are like the gaps in most spark plugs set at the factory. Once it is screwed on the final twist not taut to align the face is all it needs.
3.   The last thing that caught my attention several years ago that played tricks on the old brain was the grid reader change. In the beginning as stated in the instructions all 4 bars darken read FULL when cold. After about 2 years those same bars cause me to add more oil than necessary. I could not get MOCO to own-up so I use the original dipstick to check the oil levels and discovered that it was reading 3 bars full when cold and 4 bars when hot.
4.   I use GUNK degrease to clean on the cap maybe the chemicals affected the circuit board
But now I have a new one with a battery indicator WOW. Now I am good for 4 more years.

charles05663 · « **Reply #26 on:** August 19, 2011, 10:29:27 AM »

Quote from: Fireguy on August 18, 2011, 07:09:39 PM

I would buy a dash mount gauge in a heartbeat if it matched the other gauges.

I was looking at the dealer catalog the other day and noticed that they now have a back-lit LED temperature gauge.

Author Topic: Oil temp/level Electronic Dipstick (Read 5946 times)