Did I over fill fuel tank?
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4,052
Likes: 5,159
From: Below the Gnat Line
I can usually get another quart after it releases, sometimes, a half gallon depending on the pump nozzle sensitivity. I have to find the nozzles that let you slow to a trikle without foaming so much. A half gallon in a six gallon tank is 8%; it makes a difference in your range.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,353
Likes: 1,966
From: PA
Gasoline has a tendency to expand as it's temperature rises. The gasoline was in the ground, where the temp doesn't rise/fall very much. When it's transferred to your tank, the sun hits it and warms it up slightly. IF you fill it to the brim, the heated up expanded fuel has got to go somewhere. If you had a California bike (that was stock,) then it would have gone into the charcoal canister. But, since you have a 49 State bike, it dumps on the floor. Just be happy your gas fired water heater didn't find those fumes before you did...
In the future, you can fill it to the brim, but you've got to ride it right away. Like if you're traveling. Filling it to the brim does increase your fuel range slightly, so there's that.
In the future, you can fill it to the brim, but you've got to ride it right away. Like if you're traveling. Filling it to the brim does increase your fuel range slightly, so there's that.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
not worth sweating over that little bit. trying to squeeze every last ounce you can in there is not going to give you substantially more range, and you risk spilling gas on you or your bike. at 40 mpg (very conservative estimate at highway speeds) a full cup of fuel aka 8 oz, is going to give you an increased range of 2.5 miles. unless you're in the australian outback, there is no reason to risk it for 2.5 miles. just my opinion. but, i've never had gas spilled in my crotch either, so there is that....
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 141
Likes: 11
From: Maine
After acquiring the Low Rider in 2011 I quickly found that I needed to mentally adjust my OCD to allowing the pump stop on at an "odd" number and not to top off. Got gas, drove the 3 minutes home, parked it, and watched aghast as it peed gas all over the place. Lesson learned!
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 997
Likes: 489
From: Louisville, KY
I used to also fill as much as I could. Never had a problem. Then, one warm sunny day I rode the bike to go pick up 2 carry out lunches for the wife and I. Now, the night before I had gone on one of my after dinner rides into the adjacent semi rural county and, as usual, I filled my gas tank on the way in--I was about 4-5 miles from home when I filled up--rode into the garage and parked the bike. So, next day on my "lunch run" I park the bike in the sun, wasn't in the restaurant 5 minutes, and when I came out gas was dripping off of the tank and had puddled some under the bike. I no longer try to get my tank as full as possible.
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