oil pressure gauge install

[snarleybill08]

,i installed an autometer 100 psi electric oil pressure gauge on my 08 nomad today. thought i would pass on some interesting observations. autometer is always my choice of gauges, i think they are about as good and accurate as you can get. first i am running 15w-40 rotella t dino. the outside temp was about 45 degrees and i took it for a ride. the start up idle pressure was 75 lbs. not to bad for a cold bike motor. went for a long ride to warm up the oil. pressure never got below 75 lbs above 2000 rpm. totally unacceptable. to high. idle pressure never got below 25 psi. at 1000 rpm. so i decided the 15w40 is to thick for this engine. since i was due for an oil change i came home and put the winter fill in 5w- 40 rotella t synthetic. i think i will stick with this year round in my 2 v-twins. with the close tolerance these metric engines run thick oil is unacceptable for proper lubrication. by the way when i drained the 15w- 40 it was exceptionally thick for being hot. just thought i would pass it along. another thing that i found out is the threads on the kawasaki oil sending unit are not 1/8 npt. they are a british thread. the diameter is about .013" smaller than 1/8" npt, and is 28 threads per inch as apposed to 1/8 npt 27 threads per inch. i chased the threads on the autometer sending unit with the british die and it screwed in perfect. i will repost the oil pressure with the thinner oil, although i don't expect a big change. i can see why the early models ate nylon gears. im surprised there aren't oil pump failures.bill