oil pressure switch for 81 440LTD - where?

I got an 81 440LTD that just started having the pressure switch leak a lot of oil when riding. I tried to get a new one from the dealership and also from Bike Bandit and I was told the part is discontinued. Other than taking the route of getting a used one on EBAY if it shows up....what other choices may I have? Is there another part that would work from a newer year? or possibly an auto part that may work?

Any help on finding a fit or fixing the one I have would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Try calling Z1 Enterprises . Often they can obtain difficult to find parts.

If not, try CyclePartsNation . They have an excellent microfiche.

If it is just around the threads, some permatex #1 gasket sealant will stop that. Slap some on threads, screw it in, wipe off excess, let dry 24hrs.

GL.

TeK9iNe wrote:

If it is just around the threads, some permatex #1 gasket sealant will stop that. Slap some on threads, screw it in, wipe off excess, let dry 24hrs.

GL.

Unfortunately, it is not at the threads but on top near the terminal post. I was wondering if they are no longer made or if it is something that dealerships don't carry anymore. I'm trying to stay away from the route of a used part for this particular item since I think age has a lot to do with the leak......if I get another used part from an 81-83 I'm betting it will just leak again sometime soon.

Looking at PS for cars, they look similar to this one. And it appears that the operating oil pressure is around 60 psi just like a car......so if I can find one that has the same threads.....I may be able to find an auto part that would work.

Just wondering if anyone else has done that yet.

Why not just put an oil pressure gauge on. It's easy enough to get the proper brass fitting to screw right into where that switch does and run your gauge off that.

Capt America wrote:

Why not just put an oil pressure gauge on. It's easy enough to get the proper brass fitting to screw right into where that switch does and run your gauge off that.

not sure if you are pullin my leg there:P ....but I wouldn't have nearly enough room to mount any type of gauge. I looked under advanced auto and looked up a couple of pressure switches for jap cars around the 81 era. Turns out Honda civic 81 has a switch that is very similar. single electrode on top for a single sending term and about the same dimensions......will need to check if the threads work on the KZ side. But they did not have them in the store.

problem I am having is that the store needs a part number to go after in order to help.

LP440 wrote:

Capt America wrote:

Why not just put an oil pressure gauge on. It's easy enough to get the proper brass fitting to screw right into where that switch does and run your gauge off that.

not sure if you are pullin my leg there:P ....but I wouldn't have nearly enough room to mount any type of gauge. I looked under advanced auto and looked up a couple of pressure switches for jap cars around the 81 era. Turns out Honda civic 81 has a switch that is very similar. single electrode on top for a single sending term and about the same dimensions......will need to check if the threads work on the KZ side. But they did not have them in the store.

problem I am having is that the store needs a part number to go after in order to help.

Why trust the life of your motor to an idiot light?
They sell all kinds of after market oil pressure gauge kits. The gauge doesn't actually mount under the carbs where you'd have to hang sideways off your bike to see your oil pressure.. LOL..
Here this video should give you an idea of what I meant. It's a newer triumph in the video, but uses the same oil feed to the top of motor as your 440, except it has a flex tube instead of a solid one like you have.

Capt America wrote:
[quote
Why trust the life of your motor to an idiot light?
They sell all kinds of after market oil pressure gauge kits. [/quote]

I guess I am still just trying to do a quick fix instead of take it to the next step and make a little project out of it. I dunno.....a pressure gauge for a little 440 is a little bit much for that size bike..no room for any more gauges on the bars as it is.....and the idiot light worked for 30 years just fine. I am just bummed that a part like that is discontinued and would just like to do a quick fix.

Looks like it should be easy to get a Kawasaki part, did you try your local Dealer, might surprise you.
Otherwise easy to order, from any Kawasaki parts distributor, around $25-30.

Motor Head wrote:

Looks like it should be easy to get a Kawasaki part, did you try your local Dealer, might surprise you.
Otherwise easy to order, from any Kawasaki parts distributor, around $25-30.

tried the dealership and BikeBandit - both said the part is discontinued. I have an email in to one of the places suggested earlier in this thread.

otherwise.....the only option is used parts.

Really, when I did a Google search it did not come up as NLA, but may supersede to a newer #. Does your service manual show a operating pressure for the switch and oil pressure for the system?
The Auto motive stuff I know about will have a 1/8" pipe thread and operate about 5-6 psi. There are others with a metric thread but I don't know which make model to send you to.

I know the operating pressure of the oil on the bike is 4kg/cm(2) or 57 psi......I thought that was about the same as cars.....so I was guessing whatever threshhold pressure activates a car switch would also work on the bike.....its a normally closed switch (pressure to open).....so I think if I could find a replacement that would fit into the threads....then the electical part could somehow be made to work.....if its a single electrode....its easy....it just a switch to ground basically.

But is the low pressure that you need to know, when will the switch ground the wire, 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,PSI? This is what is crucial, that it can handle 100psi is really not the first issue.

EDIT: IS 27010-1157 the part # that you came up, as I just called my Dealer and its NLA like you said and no supersede.