8 miles hardly qualifies for being called a 'reserve'! I haven't attempted to dismantle my Pingel, but is it possible to add a longer tube, to increase reserve?

 

Theres a rebuild kit. But tube length is a crapshoot.

 

I have a 92 Softail. I have not tested the reserve, but I am assuming I would get 30 to 35 miles out of it. This is based on the gas mileage I get and the fact that I get about 3.5 gallons from the main and I believe the total capacity is 4.5 gallons.

I have never gone more than 5 miles on the reserve. I would like to know without finding out the hard way. Maybe I should ride it around the block until it runs out so I do not have to walk to far to go get gas.

 

Easy way of finding out. Having turned on reserve ride for about half the distance you think you can go. That is best done while riding locally, where you know you can easily get fuel. Just ride around in loops of a few miles, checking fuel level at intervals. If you get to 30 miles you can be more confident of doing that distance again! You will find that as fuel gets lower the bike will start to run light, also once it gets to that stage it may be difficult to restart. In that case refill before having the coffee and doughnut you promised yourself!

Check fuel capacity on-line here, as some Softails have a 5 gallon tank

 

Depending on the model of softail you have you either have 4.2 or 5.2 gallon tanks.

 

I also have a Pingle on mine, almost exactly the same amount of reserve too. Next time I have to drain the tank gonna cut it down like you did. How much did you cut off? Now If I can only get the damn fuel gauge to read correctly. I have an early Road King tank on mine and the gauge has never read full, even when I fill the tank right into the neck.

 

One more thing to consider. About 2/3 thru the red mark reserve mine runs out.. about 30 miles or so. when I hit red I flip the Pingle and head to the gas, or before then.

 

 

 

IIRC I cut off about 1/2".
I'ts been a while so I don't recall for sure.