Have you ever wondered what is really happening under your sled's hood? Have you ever been concerned about jetting and possible melt-downs? Are you a racer and want that engine running at peak performance? By monitoring your exhaust temperatures you can find out a lot about that mill your running. Exhaust gas temperature (EGT) gauges can do just that and more.

We contacted the folks at Globale Industrial Products and discussed their Pyro Series EGT gauges. They offer very affordable gauges that are sure to meet your needs. After discussing the product line we selected the Pyro 2001, though the PyroTach and the even more affordable Pyro 2000 products are available.

The Pyro 2001 measures exhaust temperatures by two Type K EGT inputs that are inserted into the exhaust manifold. Those signals are transmitted to a conventional analog meter with the latest microprocessor based digital technology. This display has a high contrast, wide temperature range, LCD making it easy to read even at a glance. Eight high intensity LED's provide a bright and evenly lit back light in low light or nighttime situations. The front face lens is sealed against moisture and offers "Anti-Fog" glass. It also has custom indicators telling what mode the meter is in as each function is selected. The display mounts in a 2" hole and most dash panels have a place to mount additional gauges. If your dash does not have space there is an available mounting pod you can install it into. A remote switch that can also be mounted in the dash switches modes in the display.

Under the normal mode, the gauge displays the current exhaust temperatures for each cylinder. On a cold engine, the gauge will display a series of dashes until the temperature reaches 100?F and will monitor up to 1500?F. The measurements are within ?5?F or better over the entire range. Additionally under this mode, when the exhaust temperature limit has exceeded, the display will flash for that cylinder. The factory preset limit is 1250?F but can be changed in 50?F increments. This mode will also retain the highest temperature encountered in memory. Shutting the engine off clears the memory so check before shutting down.

Click on the image to view the mode chart.

Using the supplied toggle switch you can change to the different modes and then set parameters. Moving the toggle to the left will position the gauge to peak mode which will display your highest temperature reading. Toggle left again displays the alarm set mode. Toggle to the right and you can change the temperature limit in 50?F increments. If you had toggled left again and were in RPM mode you would be able to set the RPM alarm set point. Toggle to the right and adjust the RPM alarm in 500 RPM increments. RPM mode will display one cylinder temp and the RPM. You can also do a speed run in this mode. If you toggled left again, the gauge would be in memory record mode. This is where you can begin a 30 second speed run. Toggling left again would display the results of the 30 second speed run in real time. It will stay in memory until you clear it or make a second run. If this seems confusing, it really is not. Click the image to the right to display the toggle info chart. Is this neat or what?

 

Click to view a larger image.

The PyroTach is basically the same as the Pyro 2001 but has only one Type K EGT input. You will have to monitor towards the pipe for a combined reading of both cylinders. The gauge displays the temperature on one line and the RPM on another line. It has the all the same features as the Pyro 2001 though it has the inability to measure both exhausts. If you want to read both cylinders you will want the Pyro 2001. If I could have it all, I would want to take the best of both worlds and combine the two by having one line each for RPM, MAG temp and PTO temp, though I suspect the LCD digits would be too large to fit within a gauge this size.

 

 

Click to view a larger image.

The Pyro 2000 will read both cylinders and ranges from 0?F to 1900?F. There are no modes you can select, just view the current readings. Those of you that only want the basics, this gauge is for you and it is a lot more informative than a standard OEM temp gauge.

INSTALLATION

 

 

First, drill a 2" hole in your dash or use an available pod mount.

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Installing the Pyro 2001 is a relatively easy procedure. I installed the gauge into our Project Renegade sled which has an available spot in the dash for mounting.

You will need the following tools before starting the installation.

 

Phillips Screwdriver 2" Hole Saw Drill 3/16" Drill Bit 1/4" Drill Bit Crimper

Standard Screw Driver 19/32" open end Wrench Pliers 8mm Wrench Wire Cutter

 

Use the thermocouple clamp to guide drilling the exhaust manifold.

Click to view a larger image.

I will not go into detail on how to install the Pyro2001 EGT gauge because the instructions supplied are that good. All you need to do is follow them step by step.

Under normal circumstances I could have installed the unit in under two hours. However, I did run into some snags. The kit comes with everything you need but no more. Take your time when installing! I had lost a crush sleeve when installing one of the thermocouples somewhere in the abyss under the engine which required me to take a run to the local parts store.

The other issue is connecting the power and ground wires for the unit. The instructions had indicated to connect at the headlights wiring harness which in a general sense would be alright. This could not be done on our sled which was a 2002 Ski-Doo Renegade 700. It was indicated by a local dealer that the headlights are in a loop that will not provide constant current in both low and high beam modes. Hence the original problem. The power and ground were connected to the appropriate wires at the speedometer. In this case, yellow for power and yellow/black for ground, and all was right with the world.

 

The thermocouples installed in the exhaust manifold.

Click to view a larger image.

To be fair with the instructions supplied, the only generalization is with the power/ground connections. Not all snowmobile wiring harnesses are the same, especially with newer models that are providing more accessories and are computer controlled. The instructions can not possibly provide correct connections for every snowmobile type out there. My suggestion is to contact your local dealer and ask where the best place to get a constant connection at the dash area. I also spoke with Globale Industrial's tech support and found them to be extremely helpful. They also noted that the unit is self-protected against improper currents which indicates the quality of the product.

OVERVIEW

 

 

The finished installation and note the toggle switch. The camera flash does not give the gauges clarity justice.

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I must have to say that the Pyro 2001 EGT is one of the most usefull devices I have installed on a snowmobile. Personally, I have always been a little on edge about melt-downs because of lean mixtures. Being able to monitor both cylinder temps tells an unfolding story under the hood and it sets my mind at ease knowing that my engine is running safely. The visual blinking of an exhaust temp indicating a hot cylinder is invaluable. Performing a 30 second speed run across your favorite lake and then reviewing the results in real-time is a great source of information for racers and performance enthusiasts to dial in. Since you can not always be looking at your gauge when going down the trail, one click to the left on the toggle tells you the highest temperatures reached. An EGT gauge simply makes a standard temperature gauge obsolete.

The Pyro2001 has a lot of options at an affordable price and personally, this editor will not go with out one again.

For more information go the Globale Industrial Products Website at www.globalepower.com or feel free to give them a call at 1-800-951-8774. You can also get the Pyro products at any of their affiliates listed below.

Fetts Brothers Racing at www.fettbrosperformance.com or at 218-334-3388.
Exhaust Gas Technologies at www.exhaustgas.com or at 800-348-4678.
Hi-Performance Exhaust at www.hiperf.com or at 218-681-2390.
Trans Can Imports at www.transcanimports.com or at 780-465-0126.