I have added temperature gauges to my last two quads and they have always been a nice addition. When trail riding or riding in the mud it is very easy to run into temperature problems. The radiator can get plugged up with mud or weeds and not provide adequate cooling. Or worse yet the electric fan can cycle on when it is in the water or mud and blow a fuse. Either way before you know it the temperature light comes on and by then its too late. There are a lot of ways your quad can over heated and we have all found our selves wondering if that fan was ever going to shut off. Adding a temperature gauge can be a very easy solution to this issue and can eliminate all of the guess work.
For a gauge I choose a mechanical gauge over the electrical ones. No big reason other than I have heard that the mechanical gauges are more durable in the long run. The mechanical gauges are very accurate but they tend to lag a little when temperature changes where the electric gauges adjust very quickly. I wanted a 1 ½ diameter gauge and they were impossible to find locally by them selves. So I purchased a set of three gauges from Autozone for about the same price as I could order a single gauge on line. I just used the one I needed.
Installation is not hard at all. It is harder getting the plastics off then actually doing the mod itself. First I found the hose going from the motor back to the top of the radiator. Remember that you want the hose with hot water going from the motor to the radiator. The other hose will be flowing already cooled water back to the motor. Cut this hose as close as convenient to the motor end. I used a T with hose barb fittings on both ends that will fit into the hose. Then in the third inlet of the T I had a ½ opening that accepted the adaptor fitting from my temperature sensor that came with the gauge. I used thread tape on the treads and hose clamps on the hose ends.
A couple of last minute tips. Use as large of fittings as you can find as to not restrict the flow any more than you have to. I used copper and / or galvinized fittings but I have since learned that the grey colored nylon fittings will hold up fine and weigh a lot less. Also pay attention to your sensor tip, use fittings to allow the tip to reach down into the flow of water but not so far as to become an obstruction.
First get your parts and connections together.
Next you need to install the gauge itself. I installed mine on the dash and it looks very nice when finished. I have also seen the gauge installed in a lot of other places. To install it I cut a rough round hole smaller than the gauge. I used a dremel tool with a small sanding drum bit to enlarge the hole to make it fit. I then routed the sensor wire through the hole and mounted the gauge.
As stated above find the hose that is returning hot water to the radiator from the motor. It is typicaly the upper hose. On the H1 it is easy to find and access on the left side behind the inner fender cover.
After locating the correct hose, cut out a short section, route the sensor wire down to the T connection and install the hardware. It is all pretty straight forward and basic stuff. After tightening all the connections use wire ties to secure the sensor wire and any excess to the frame. I did not hook up any lights to my gauge but if you want to have the gauge light up it is a simple install to wire it in. Remember before you test ride the quad to fill the radiator as you will loose a little coolant during the installation.
