Snowmobileaddict
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Here are some preliminary photos of the fitment of an analog temp gauge install that I am working on.
I found an affordable, decent looking 1.5" water temp gauge and was initially thinking of mounting it adjacent to the 12v dc acc. outlet in the forward tank cover plate. After taking a closer look, i realized that the gauge body is the exact same thickness as the handlebar pad mounting foam!
The handlebar pad makes for a much better location. Its front and center and always easy to read. Plus, its much cheaper to replace the handlebar pad in order to return the sled to completely stock form. The bar pad is only $20
Here are some photos:
With the gauge pressed into the bar pad foam, the fitment is so tight that the mounting ring isn't even required to secure it!
The kit comes with 3 backlit color filters to change the apeparance of the gauge. I am thinking of going with blue to try to match the tach. The kit also comes complete with a temp sending unit that is 1/8" NPT.
I ending up having to source a different type of radiator hose adapter to mount the sending unit. This particular sending unit is designed to be mounted in a location that it is grounded to the chassis (ie threaded hole in engine block). Because my application requires mounting the sending unit in a radiator hose with an adapter block, the radiator hose is isolated from electrical ground.
I was able to find an aluminum billet sending unit adapter on a well known auction website that is fitted with a grounding post to run a grounding lead back to the frame.
In all, I'm pretty happy with how this install is looking. I plan on getting some vinyl friendly spray paint and spraying the pad cover so the remants of the "Yamaha Apex" logo are no longer visible. This should make install look more "finished". I suppose some self-adhesve vinyl or grip tape could look cool as well.
Wiring will be pretty straight forward and I'll be able to run the wires within the wire loom running down the steering post.
I think I'm also going to mask off the gauge crystal and bezel and run a bead of silcone at the seam to weatherproof the top side of the guage.
I'll be sure to add photos of the finished project once complete. Also, this setup proved to be quite the bargain. We'll see how the guage performs this season. If the gauge fails, the cost of replacement is less than a tank of gas for an Apex.
I found an affordable, decent looking 1.5" water temp gauge and was initially thinking of mounting it adjacent to the 12v dc acc. outlet in the forward tank cover plate. After taking a closer look, i realized that the gauge body is the exact same thickness as the handlebar pad mounting foam!
The handlebar pad makes for a much better location. Its front and center and always easy to read. Plus, its much cheaper to replace the handlebar pad in order to return the sled to completely stock form. The bar pad is only $20
Here are some photos:
With the gauge pressed into the bar pad foam, the fitment is so tight that the mounting ring isn't even required to secure it!
The kit comes with 3 backlit color filters to change the apeparance of the gauge. I am thinking of going with blue to try to match the tach. The kit also comes complete with a temp sending unit that is 1/8" NPT.
I ending up having to source a different type of radiator hose adapter to mount the sending unit. This particular sending unit is designed to be mounted in a location that it is grounded to the chassis (ie threaded hole in engine block). Because my application requires mounting the sending unit in a radiator hose with an adapter block, the radiator hose is isolated from electrical ground.
I was able to find an aluminum billet sending unit adapter on a well known auction website that is fitted with a grounding post to run a grounding lead back to the frame.
In all, I'm pretty happy with how this install is looking. I plan on getting some vinyl friendly spray paint and spraying the pad cover so the remants of the "Yamaha Apex" logo are no longer visible. This should make install look more "finished". I suppose some self-adhesve vinyl or grip tape could look cool as well.
Wiring will be pretty straight forward and I'll be able to run the wires within the wire loom running down the steering post.
I think I'm also going to mask off the gauge crystal and bezel and run a bead of silcone at the seam to weatherproof the top side of the guage.
I'll be sure to add photos of the finished project once complete. Also, this setup proved to be quite the bargain. We'll see how the guage performs this season. If the gauge fails, the cost of replacement is less than a tank of gas for an Apex.
Irv
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1995 XLT SP (Son's)
Great idea, I like it 
FLYBYU
VIP Member
Looks good. Just don't ride your sled without a helmet. That guage will do damage to your forehead.
Looks great.
I ended up with a trailtech TTO this year. Easy install, and about $60. We'll see how it preforms this year. It works great in my garage...LOL
I ended up with a trailtech TTO this year. Easy install, and about $60. We'll see how it preforms this year. It works great in my garage...LOL
Nick1945
TY 4 Stroke Master
Great idea, nice installation, looks like it came that way
RIGIDONE
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just a helpful hint, i ran an analog temp gauge last year switched to a digital this year.... the needle jiggles alot, i could only get an accurate reading when i was stopped.... your install looks very nice..
Snowmobileaddict
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
RIGIDONE said:
I'll have to see how this one performs. I had factory analogs on my last 2 sleds. I am hoping that this one performs well. I really like the customizeable color filters and I prefer the look of an analog gauge.
Otherwise, I may be converting to a digital flush-mount install like this:
RIGIDONE
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kinger
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I made a water jet template for all of my gauges. Works good
RIGIDONE
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thats the bomb!!!!!!!
Snowmobileaddict
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
kinger said:
Water jet. It would be nice to have one of those in the garage. I'll have to add one of those to my Christmas Wish List. Maybe Craftsman makes one.
Thats a very nice setup Kinger. You should market those gauge mounts. I'm sure plenty of folks would love to buy them. Welter could powder coat them in custom colors.
Snowmobileaddict
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Got the install done. I'm pretty happy with it.
I did order some colored LEDs to take the place of the mini bulb w/color filters. The stock bulb is kind of dim...
I did order some colored LEDs to take the place of the mini bulb w/color filters. The stock bulb is kind of dim...
Do you have a pic of the sender/housing? The gauge in the dash looks great. Too bad yamaha couldnt put temp in the factory gauge cluster.
Snowmobileaddict
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
RED said:
Snowmobileaddict
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Well, my led wedge bulbs (designed for gauges) arrived today from China. The blue is nice and bright and almost a perfect match for the tach backlighting. Just wish I could take better pix. NOW BRING ON THE SNOW FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. Its 60 degress here and we were under a Tornado warning?!? WTF
