'83 Spada Oil light

[David 54]

The oil light has just come on my Spada. Checked oil, it's on max, oil was changed only 2,000 miles ago. Could it be filter blocked (unlikely?) or elec fault?
The bike is running perfectly.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Most likely the sender unit/oil pressure switch. Or the filter came loose - do you use a hose clamp on the filter?

[David 54]

Never had it apart, had it looked over by a Guzzi specialist (www.dimarino.co.uk) when I bought it in January for peace of mind
Thank you for your advice👍🏻

[Chuck in Indiana]

Find out for sure before riding it again, but it's just a simple pressure switch that's known to fail.

[Tom]

 :1: on the pressure sending unit.

[rodekyll]

 :1:
on sorting it out before you run it again.

If the switch is gone consider replacing it with a gauge.  They call the oem setup an "idiot light" for a reason.


BTW -- What is the minimum operating oil pressure on a big block?

[John A]

should be called "replace main bearings light"

[Kiwi_Roy]

A simple way of verifying you have oil pressure is open one of the lines going to the valve gear, if it gushes out there it's ok.
If the line has a banjo it's an easy place to add a gauge, just a longer hollow bolt and another banjo.

Please excuse my home made fitting.

[pehayes]

While it is most likely the sending unit (did you just happen to wash the bike recently or ride it in heavy rain), it is good/cheap/easy insurance to inspect your internal oil filter and add a hose clamp for security.  I have found loose filters.  It will look like this:



or this:



or this:



Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Harbor Freight sells an inexpensive oil pressure test kit.

http://www.harborfreight.com/engine-oil-pressure-test-kit-98949.html

[Howard R]

BTW -- What is the minimum operating oil pressure on a big block?

The shop manual for a '96 Sport 1100 says to test the oil pressure sender at 0.15 to 0.35 bar.  That translates to 2-5 psi so anything above that will put out the dash light.  I think the same part # is pretty much ubiquitous for all the pre-Breva big blocks.  As John A says, if you see the light while running down the road, it's true meaning is "pull over now and replace conrod big end bearings" at the very least.

[David 54]

Thanks to you all for your help, it is the switch. Had a chat with Pietro (dimarino.co.uk) he said it would be the switch (I've ordered one) I undid the oil feed to the head, started engine, lot of oil👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 so worries over

[Tom]

Problem solved.