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Buell Forum » Knowledge Vault (tech, parts, apparel, & accessories topics) » Do It Yourself: Machine Shop, Garage, Tools and Tips » Archive through October 09, 2009 » Dipstick Improvement « Previous Next »

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Bking
Posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2007 - 08:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I got this idea from reading a members bio. Don't remember if it was BadWeb or on another board. I can't take credit for the idea.

The yellow heat shrink on the dipstick has held up for 750 miles so far.





-----Bob

(Message edited by bking on July 03, 2007)

(Message edited by bking on July 03, 2007)
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Blake
Posted on Wednesday, July 04, 2007 - 12:54 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Paint would seem less risky.
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Ragnagwar
Posted on Wednesday, July 04, 2007 - 08:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I took the one from my M2 and sanded one side flat, then used some gun bluing to darken the flat side. Oil is level much easier to see now.
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Reepicheep
Posted on Wednesday, July 04, 2007 - 09:40 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Blake, do you know of any paint you could put on plastic that would survive a perpetual hot oil bath?

At least that heat shrink tubing will get good and shrinky when it's hot...
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Ragnagwar
Posted on Wednesday, July 04, 2007 - 01:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

When heat shrink gets heated up to much it can soften and get loose again.
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Bking
Posted on Wednesday, July 04, 2007 - 03:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If anything, it seems to have gotten tighter. For sure I don't want it coming off in the oil tank!

-----Bob
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Blake
Posted on Thursday, July 05, 2007 - 12:49 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Bill,

Not sure. But it would seem that engine paint and a little prep on the plastic would work fine. About eleven years ago, on orders from Michele, I painted some vinyl siding on our house with latex house paint. It gets scrubbed a couple times a year and still looks great. The wood is needing repainted.

Better would be for Buell to start using white plastic for their dip sticks. : )
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Reepicheep
Posted on Thursday, July 05, 2007 - 08:27 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The Honda XR guys are running modified turkey basters of some sort for their dipsticks. It gives an analog temperature gauge on top, and works as a dipstick. Maybe I will look at building something like that.

Wonder how much "sacrificial dipsticks" cost from Buell for potential modification... That would be a fun little afternoon project.
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Gotj
Posted on Thursday, July 05, 2007 - 08:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Reep, That's already been done by a BadWebber. He cut off the stick part, drilled a hole and bonded in a meat thermometer. Then he marked the probe with the oil level limits. He thought it might be better to leave the stick attached and drill the hole next to it. You'll have to do your own search though, I don't have the link.
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Bking
Posted on Saturday, July 07, 2007 - 12:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Well, so much for that idea. I was checking my oil, wiped the dipstick off with a rag and the heat shrink came off, and it came off very easy. Good thing it didn't come off in the tank!

-----Bob
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Ragnagwar
Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 08:55 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I know this may sound a bit off the wall, but since that dipstick is plastic do you think it would do any good to set it in a jar of bleach and try and leach the color out of it? May make it light enough to give you a good read.
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Jackbequick
Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 01:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The adhesive lined heat shrink tubing might be worth a try. That can be found on eBay in various sizes and colors in smaller quantities. You just can't have too many kinds and sizes of heat shrink tubing laying around...

I'd degrease the dipstick with alcohol or something and put the kind with the heat activated adhesive on. It sticks real well in my experience.

Another approach might be to drill a small hole in the dipstick of file a small notch in the edge.

Jack
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Mikej
Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 09:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Just use a piece of paper towel, napkin, shirt tail, pant leg. Dip the stick in then blot it off on the chosen material to see where the level is. Hard to explain, easy to do, fingers work too. Wipe, wash, repeat as necessary.

I think white dip sticks are slower than black ones.

Bleach may or may not work on plastic, but may make the plastic more brittle. Someone could also try the Rit dye trick, but not sure how that'd work on black plastic.

I just use my fingers if I can't tell where the oil level is, but close enough is close enough for me. YMMV
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Gregtonn
Posted on Friday, August 17, 2007 - 12:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

One of the best ways I've found to make a dipstick more "readable".

Drill three tiny holes through the dipstick, one at full, one midway and one at add. The viscosity of the oil will fill the holes at what ever level the oil is. Empty holes are easy to spot.
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Jayvee
Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 11:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Hey, dual-purpose "Lightening Holes" I really like this idea...
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Buellfart
Posted on Sunday, September 16, 2007 - 09:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I always tie a little rag near the dipstick somewhere.Got the idea from Erma Bombeck years ago while waiting for a haircut.
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Mesafirebolt
Posted on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 - 09:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Ok, this worked GREAT for me. I premeasured the length, then cut off the "stick". I cut the slotted portion of a very thin (Aircraft pnumatic) hose clamp (Stainless steel) the "Slots" show the oil level very well. Then used a punch to mark the correct range. Drilled a small hole in the new stick, and a corresponding hole in the small remaining plastick I left on the cap. put a stainless cotter pin through it...1,000 miles later I LOVE IT! Hope this opens up some more ideas for you guys. The cap is good, just the stick needs a better Idea. I also have a length of heavy duty ball chain (think dog tag necklace on steroids) with yellow heatshrink on it (Because of the balls, it WONT come off I tried) I'll post some pics when I get a chance-youll love it!
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