Lousy mileage - lousy day
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Joined: May 2010
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From: St Louis, Missouri
Lousy mileage - lousy day
So...finally got a bit of hometime (OTR truck driver) and got the bike out of storage. After standing it back up and finding a broken clutch lever and scratched tank and front fender I took it for inspection and new tags. Passed inspection, replaced levers myself, and used 1/4 tank of fuel in less than 30 miles. Called dealer and found I can replace temp sensor and both o2 sensors for less than they charge to diagnose the issue, so I ordered the temp sensor thinking that was most likely to cause the problem. Any body else have a mileage issue after extended storage? Just trying to see if I'm on the right track.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Harleyland, USA
Just get out and ride that puppy. Why worry about a few mpg, especially if it's been in storage?
What are you basing your mileage on? Did you fill tank, ride 30 miles, then refill? If so, your 30 mile test was too short to be meaningful. If you're basing your calculations on your fuel gauge thats meaningless due to inaccuracy of gauge over 1/4 of it's range.
What are you basing your mileage on? Did you fill tank, ride 30 miles, then refill? If so, your 30 mile test was too short to be meaningful. If you're basing your calculations on your fuel gauge thats meaningless due to inaccuracy of gauge over 1/4 of it's range.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 263
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From: SoCal
These two have good points. O2 sensors don't just go bad from sitting, so probably not your problem. Most likely it is fuel system related, since that's the biggest system that is affected from sitting.
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Joined: May 2010
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From: St Louis, Missouri
Bike is 2009 FXD - stock except for cycle shack slip ons
has 26000 miles on it
Just ran a full tank of gas through it w/cleaner, only 110 miles - used to be 200+ before fuel light would come on.
Temp sensor came in today, so I will try that and see what happens. At less than $40.00 its worth a shot.
Thanks for the ideas.
Bob
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From: Out on Deranged
Bike is 2009 FXD - stock except for cycle shack slip ons
has 26000 miles on it
Just ran a full tank of gas through it w/cleaner, only 110 miles - used to be 200+ before fuel light would come on.
Temp sensor came in today, so I will try that and see what happens. At less than $40.00 its worth a shot.
Thanks for the ideas.
Bob
Consider these alternatives first if you haven't paid for the sensor yet:
Have you cleaned your air cleaner wick or replaced it? yours could be clogged.
spray some throttle body cleaner into the system ( following instructions)
Ride a few tanks through it as others have suggested.
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Joined: May 2010
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From: St Louis, Missouri
I don't see how knowing the temperature of the engine will help your mileage, it's not like there is a cooling system on it.
Consider these alternatives first if you haven't paid for the sensor yet:
Have you cleaned your air cleaner wick or replaced it? yours could be clogged.
spray some throttle body cleaner into the system ( following instructions)
Ride a few tanks through it as others have suggested.
Consider these alternatives first if you haven't paid for the sensor yet:
Have you cleaned your air cleaner wick or replaced it? yours could be clogged.
spray some throttle body cleaner into the system ( following instructions)
Ride a few tanks through it as others have suggested.
Thanks for the ideas everyone. I wanted to make sure I hadn't forgot to check anything obvious.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Illinois
If you went by the trip odometer zeroed out when you last filled it, then it is useless for determining mpg when you filled it up again. It is the fresh tank full that will give you the true mpg. I have found that my bikes loose about a half gallon when stored over several months.
I do always put Sta-Bil in them to prolong the fuels shelf life. That will also keep the carb/injectors clean. I have 18 bikes and even though I put over 30K between them each year, it still results in long storage time before use. The gas tanks are vented and they do loose content by evaporation.
I do always put Sta-Bil in them to prolong the fuels shelf life. That will also keep the carb/injectors clean. I have 18 bikes and even though I put over 30K between them each year, it still results in long storage time before use. The gas tanks are vented and they do loose content by evaporation.
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