HD fuel gauge..., useless!!!
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 285
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Mine is just like that. I will have to see if I can adjust it.
Club Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 4
From: Ponchatoula Louisiana
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 0
From: Chicago.
I managed to ride for 20+ years without fuel gauges on any of my bikes. So, now my '06 FXST comes with one..., I was like "cool, a fuel gauge. No more waiting to turn the reserve tank on at 60mph anymore".
I tell ya, this thing ain't worth the chrome plastic it was made with. It only measures the top half of the tank. I fill my tank, ride 200 kms (anout 85 miles) and the thing is buried under the "E". I can go 320 kms before needing to switch to the reserve tank. Does "E" stand for "enough" on these things?!?
Are they all like this, or is mine just outta whack?!? I suspect that maybe because my bike is lowered in the back, it may be throwing the thing off a little. And no..., I have no intentions of raising my suspension to correct the problem
I tell ya, this thing ain't worth the chrome plastic it was made with. It only measures the top half of the tank. I fill my tank, ride 200 kms (anout 85 miles) and the thing is buried under the "E". I can go 320 kms before needing to switch to the reserve tank. Does "E" stand for "enough" on these things?!?
Are they all like this, or is mine just outta whack?!? I suspect that maybe because my bike is lowered in the back, it may be throwing the thing off a little. And no..., I have no intentions of raising my suspension to correct the problem
If it's not working then there is obviously a problem that your not familiar with. Do you own a service manual? Keep digging, you WILL find the problem.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,561
Likes: 3
From: Billings, MT
I've had 3 HD's and the fuel guages have been dead on.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,514
Likes: 443
From: South Florida
Instructions for using the Harley tank guage.
Fill up. The guage is pretty reliable when the tank is full.
Ride out. The guage will stay on full for awhile, at least an hour or more, indicating you are not going to need to stop until at least the next station, 72 miles down the road, because, hey, you're guage says full up.
As the exit disappears in your rear view mirror, you will then begin to notice some activity. This activity is visible, and the guage will readily indicate that you are no longer full.
Only 68 more miles to go, and already you're down to half a tank. But half a tank is 2.5 gallons, right?. So, you'll be fine.
Then at only 40 or so miles away, your guage will be decidedly in the red. Now, you're cursing yourself for not stopping. Then, almost at 20 miles, the almost too far to make it yellow light comes on. Now is the time to panic. Draft yourself behind the mail truck. Look for people you think will be willing to stop and help you. Don't trust them.
Coast down the exit way, and pull into the station. Be surprised when it only takes 4.6 gallons. Force some extra in. Cap off, turn the key, and watch the guage climb back up to the full mark. Watch the yellow light go out. Repeat.
And remember, if Harleys were supposed to come with a real gas gauge, they wouldn't have made one out of spare gas cap parts.
Stretch
Fill up. The guage is pretty reliable when the tank is full.
Ride out. The guage will stay on full for awhile, at least an hour or more, indicating you are not going to need to stop until at least the next station, 72 miles down the road, because, hey, you're guage says full up.
As the exit disappears in your rear view mirror, you will then begin to notice some activity. This activity is visible, and the guage will readily indicate that you are no longer full.
Only 68 more miles to go, and already you're down to half a tank. But half a tank is 2.5 gallons, right?. So, you'll be fine.
Then at only 40 or so miles away, your guage will be decidedly in the red. Now, you're cursing yourself for not stopping. Then, almost at 20 miles, the almost too far to make it yellow light comes on. Now is the time to panic. Draft yourself behind the mail truck. Look for people you think will be willing to stop and help you. Don't trust them.
Coast down the exit way, and pull into the station. Be surprised when it only takes 4.6 gallons. Force some extra in. Cap off, turn the key, and watch the guage climb back up to the full mark. Watch the yellow light go out. Repeat.
And remember, if Harleys were supposed to come with a real gas gauge, they wouldn't have made one out of spare gas cap parts.
Stretch