The Utterpower Banjo Bolt

 fit your oil filter and pressure gauge or switch!

If you have a Chinese single, you may have thought about fitting an oil filter or oil pressure gauge/switch and filter. Some folks want to use the pressure switch as an input to an auto shutdown system, some will use it to activate a car horn to get their attention.

Above: Here we see the utterpower part fitted as the banjo bolt behind the flywheel on the 1115 engine. Simply remove the stock bolt, and screw this one in! The part has the standard 1/8NPT threads at the top which are what most Auto type switches and pressure sensors receive. There is a standard hardware piece that allows you to attach an oil line here to feed an off the shelf filter. The filtered oil is returned to the sump either thru the filler hole or by fitting your own return on a number of plates on the engine. The filler bolt is large enough to tap 1/8 inch NPT, and you can run the line and assure no drips or leaks.

 One must be aware that the standard Chinese oiling system can make a great deal of pressure when cold, this pressure can cause a standard auto pressure switch to leak.  If you install a switch directly as seen above, it is best to find a switch that will tolerate 125 PSI or more, and the switch might operate at 25 to 30 PSI as a failure point.

 If you wish to use the cheaper and more readily available auto switch, you might fit this switch between a restrictor (small hole) and a filter element that was commonly used on farm equipment like the Allis Chalmers model B. Tractor. My 1951 was fitted with this filter, and NAPA still has the screw on filter for it. Simply buy one of the many mounts for a screw on type filter, and fit it with 1/8 inch NPT fittings, run a line to the interface, the filter, and back to the sump.. many filters have an extra hole that you could screw the sensor into directly.

This same fitting can be screwed into the other end of the stock oil line (on the engine) to allow an interface in a more handy location, but placed behind the flywheel, it is out of the way and protected.

As you can see, this part has a huge hex on the end, and one could easily twist off the bolt head and interface. It is important that you fit the proper copper washers, and tighten no more than 10 foot pounds, personally, I’d tighten just enough to assure it doesn’t leak, and then just a little more..

I looked into having this piece made several years ago, but it was plenty expensive for the custom work and programming to make it. After two years of constant inquires for such a part, I had 100 made. 

 $28 plus shipping while they last!