, also pondering oil temp gauge.
I've been thinking about that very thing, you can get a oil temp gauge on top of the dipstick for Ducati, BMW and probably other makes, it wouldn't be too hard to adapt one to the BSA oil tank filler cap, obviously wouldn't be able to see it on the go but would be an easy way to check at various times without having to plumb one in
conversations with a goldstar race owner seem to indicate getting decent oil temperature is more an issue of getting it hot enough. Apparently quite common to run half full tanks to get the oil hot faster. I'm parking the cooler and temp gauge idea. Running without the fairing and the meeting being Taupo and a cooler month will give a good opportunity to shake it down with the latest changes.
The top end (famous last words) has given no issues for a decade of abuse, its probably just about due for a proper review. Need to build several other motors first though...
We will take a spare oil pressure plugged line in case we have issues with the new set up. A mate who has owned a lightning since 73 has always had an oil pressure gauge on it.
Am very interested to see how the pressure behaves at race temperatures albeit not summer. now I suspect it may hold well given I dont have a plain bush timing side. Was talking to a mate about plain bushes and (he's a very clever guy) and he suggested a potential issue with the BSA design is the groove is in the crank, not in the bush. So the oil doesnt hydraulically drive into the oil feed effectively. He used better words than that, he's an engineer, I'm just an experienced hack who gets by.
Cranks now 40 under and the motor now has MAP steel rods.
Hopefully I can provide some good news after the Taupo run out over Easter. Oh the joys of messing around with old bikes, nothings ever a given only the guarantee of entertainment, possibly for others...