Oil Temp Gage vs Dipstick

[MTSCMike]

I ordered the BDM Oil Cap with Dipstick for my '06 Pitbull and the package arrived today with a BDM Oil Temp Gage instead. I have several questions so please bear with me.

Does anyone else have a heck of a time finding BDM part numbers for this kind of stuff??? :angry:

Is the proper dipstick part number 103-000033-00 for an '06 Pitbull?

Is this temp gage, part number 250-00031, the right one for my bike?

Is the temp gage worth having?

Is there any reason I could not scribe some lines or sandblast a band on the gage stem and use it for both purposes, assuming I can get the dimensions I need for the high and low marks?

Does anybody have the correct dipstick and are they willing to provide dimensions for the marks?

Any help appreciated.

Mike

 

[Oscar Maldonado]

I have one on mine. (temp. gage)
I don't think it would make a difference.
If the stick is the same length that is.

 

[Raywood]

Did you order it through Vickie? Where did you get the part number if not?
I have found that she knows just about everything as far as parts for the Dogs!
I would think that scribing hi and lo lines on the temp gauge would be no problem.

Hope all works out,
Ray

 

[MTSCMike]

I ordered by "description only" (ie: dipstick for '06 Pitbull) from OKC and I got the PN off R&B's site for the only one I saw there. Someone at the BDOG site said there is no dipstick for my bike, as in not even made. I'll call Vickie from now on!

The reason I wanted a dipstick is the length of the fill neck makes it hard to tell just exactly what the oil level is. Also, the book says to fill it until the oil level is "just" below the fill neck. I can't measure "just"! Should it be 1/2" below...1/4"...or almost touching? How low can it get before it needs a touch up? How much lattitude do you have with the new tanks? I can make this thing work if I can ever get the level to a known correct level.

 

[Raywood]

Yeah, its a pain checking the level of oil. Mines not to bad, it should be level with the goose neck filler so I fill till I see oil!

Later,
Ray

 

[MTSCMike]

"Just", Means it's really not that Critical.

There is in fact a Dipstick for the 06 Pitbull and the one that is on the R&B site under 2006 Pitbull Fits Fine, the Difference that I see is you can check the oil level while on the stand where as the factory set up would want you to stand the bike up shine a light down the fill throat and check for your "Just" Below. The BD temp Gage Oil Filler, unless they have recenly come out with a new one, Does not Fit with the Passenger Peg Bracket on PitBulls Due tot he height of the Temperature Gage on the Head of the Dip Stick.

Since I have removed the rear pegs, I think I'm going to keep the temp gage, set the oil level to "just below" the fill neck when at running temp and sitting level. Then I'll insert the gage and mark the stem for that level with the bike on the kickstand and cold. From then on I can check my oil any time, without having to run it up to temp. It will be nice to be able to just go out to the garage and check it before a ride!

Once I establish the "full" line, how much lower should the "needs oil" line be?

 

[Oscar Maldonado]

Sounds like you pretty much solved your own problem. Good deal. It still would hurt to check out some other options in case you want to add the rear pegs in the future.

 

[MTSCMike]

If I Recall, l-----l <--- thats about 1/2 of an Inch Between Full and Add. But, if you do your oil Regularly, and you need to add oil, You have a Bigger Problem, especially on an 06 where they have pretty much reduced any oil blow-by or need for a puke can. At Full your using 3.0 Quarts. Your Oil Bag is about 3 Inches in height, 3 Quarts into 3 Inches = 1 Quart an Inch. When you Drop below that 1/2 Inch mark, your a Half a quart low etc etc.

Just had the 500 mile service a couple of weeks ago. The oil is probably fine but I like to check the mechanics work myself. Unfortunately, with no dipstick and just a vague description (just below fill neck) of the oil level in the manual, I wasn't sure if it was OK or not. So it's not that I think I've lost any oil...I just want a way to accurately measure it in the future.

I sure do appreciate the help so far!

 

[P8RIOT]

My K-9 came with a dipstick - frankly, it's harder to see the oil level on the smooth metal they used for the dipstick than it is to look down into the filler tube and see the level. Maybe if my oil ever got black and dirty - but that ain't gonna happen.