I recently installed a Daytona temp gauge with help from several TY members -- I really appreciate everybody's help!!!!!!!
Prior to install of gauge, I had installed a Peak Performance head from MPI and then wanted this gauge also installed. When I installed the head I tapped into the water manifold that is attached and the gauge is constantly reading the temp of the coolant passing through, so I think the gauge may lag a few seconds behind the actual engine temps.
The unit has a chargeable internal battery so one needs to locate a power source to recharge the internal battery and to run the back light on the display, the gauge will work for a time without doing this, but the battery will slowly discharge.
Obviously if your sled has electric start and a battery that is easiest to hook into -- but mine does not have a battery, so I had to look elsewhere -- but I was able to splice into the brake wire (constant 12 volt) and use that (Thank you TY for that tip!!!).....
So because of the internal battery, the gauge is always on (uses its own battery for power when machine is off). The unit is funny in that it wants to switch to the clock function when the machine is off, displaying the time instead of the temps.
The unit then draws the 12 volt power when the machine gets fired up. You can tell when it is being fed power because it then wants to switch back to the temps. There is also a backlight supposedly that works when it gets a powersource, but I have only ridden during daylight since the install and I can't tell if the backlight is running or not --- although I have tried to look, its been too bright out to see the internal light.
When the machine is running, the temps get displayed and constantly change -- it is neat to see how the collant gets cycled through the machine. At first warm up, it will heat up to 117 degrees -- maybe up to 120-ish. Then as you ride, the machine wants to stay between 124 and 130-ish. That assumes you are moving and excellent snow conditions exist. If you ride slow -- the machine warms up more. Go fast and temps cool down as more spray goes up.
In poor snow or hardpack or putting around the yard, the machine will run alot hotter. In the yard (hardpack and slow driving with 1 year old son on my lap for 20 mins. yesterday -- and yes, he LOVES the Yamaha!!!!) the machine crept up to 190-ish and i shut her down because it would've overheated. That is the beauty of the gauge -- you see when trouble is creaping up and can react.
On a hardpack trail on saturday (please note I have 2" paddle track) I was running temps of 175-185 degrees before I employed the scratchers. My machine has ski scratchers and skid mounted scratchers. With just ski scratchers, I ran temps of 150-ish to high 160's. With skid mounted scratchers, I was right back down into the 130's for temps -- 30+ degrees cooler!!!.... So my $.02 is that ski scratchers do not work sufficient on my Mountain Viper -- the traditional skid mounted scratchers are way better and keep temps where they should be.
These temp gauges are fantastic and should be included standard on every stock machine. I'm also going to put one on my 4 stroke Attak. I strongly recommend this to everyone.
Prior to install of gauge, I had installed a Peak Performance head from MPI and then wanted this gauge also installed. When I installed the head I tapped into the water manifold that is attached and the gauge is constantly reading the temp of the coolant passing through, so I think the gauge may lag a few seconds behind the actual engine temps.
The unit has a chargeable internal battery so one needs to locate a power source to recharge the internal battery and to run the back light on the display, the gauge will work for a time without doing this, but the battery will slowly discharge.
Obviously if your sled has electric start and a battery that is easiest to hook into -- but mine does not have a battery, so I had to look elsewhere -- but I was able to splice into the brake wire (constant 12 volt) and use that (Thank you TY for that tip!!!).....
So because of the internal battery, the gauge is always on (uses its own battery for power when machine is off). The unit is funny in that it wants to switch to the clock function when the machine is off, displaying the time instead of the temps.
The unit then draws the 12 volt power when the machine gets fired up. You can tell when it is being fed power because it then wants to switch back to the temps. There is also a backlight supposedly that works when it gets a powersource, but I have only ridden during daylight since the install and I can't tell if the backlight is running or not --- although I have tried to look, its been too bright out to see the internal light.
When the machine is running, the temps get displayed and constantly change -- it is neat to see how the collant gets cycled through the machine. At first warm up, it will heat up to 117 degrees -- maybe up to 120-ish. Then as you ride, the machine wants to stay between 124 and 130-ish. That assumes you are moving and excellent snow conditions exist. If you ride slow -- the machine warms up more. Go fast and temps cool down as more spray goes up.
In poor snow or hardpack or putting around the yard, the machine will run alot hotter. In the yard (hardpack and slow driving with 1 year old son on my lap for 20 mins. yesterday -- and yes, he LOVES the Yamaha!!!!) the machine crept up to 190-ish and i shut her down because it would've overheated. That is the beauty of the gauge -- you see when trouble is creaping up and can react.
On a hardpack trail on saturday (please note I have 2" paddle track) I was running temps of 175-185 degrees before I employed the scratchers. My machine has ski scratchers and skid mounted scratchers. With just ski scratchers, I ran temps of 150-ish to high 160's. With skid mounted scratchers, I was right back down into the 130's for temps -- 30+ degrees cooler!!!.... So my $.02 is that ski scratchers do not work sufficient on my Mountain Viper -- the traditional skid mounted scratchers are way better and keep temps where they should be.
These temp gauges are fantastic and should be included standard on every stock machine. I'm also going to put one on my 4 stroke Attak. I strongly recommend this to everyone.
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Where do you get one of these gauges?
I ordered mine from Mountain Performance for about $150, but you may be able to get them elsewhere.
Daytona temp gauge backlight
I rode last night and the backlight works excellent -- it is very bright.
I rode last night and the backlight works excellent -- it is very bright.