HD fuel gauge..., useless!!!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,615
Likes: 9
From: Escondido, CA
Since I filled mine up it has always read full. Maybe I should go for a ride. Actually my 07 Heritage gauge has been very accurate from day one. When it hits the red I have about a gallon or 40 miles to go before it's empty. 15,500 miles and it's still the same.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,053
Likes: 12,327
From: Arkansas
The older I get the more I rely on my Butt. I used to have a 5 Gallon Butt but now I only have a 3 Gallon one so every time I feel in by Butt that I need to take a break I know I have a little less than 2 Gallons left and I gauge my fuel stops accordingly.
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 766
Likes: 3
From: SoCal Desert
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
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,946
Likes: 822
From: Nevada
The gauge on my Ultra Classic works fine, although it has a tendency to fog on occassion.
Funny thing about my gauge is that it moves slowly from full to half tank; then it drops quickly from half to empty. Several E-Glide owners have told me the same thing.
Funny thing about my gauge is that it moves slowly from full to half tank; then it drops quickly from half to empty. Several E-Glide owners have told me the same thing.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,788
Likes: 2,222
From: Texas
I do mine just like I do my old Farmall tractor, job a stick down in the tank and see how far up the stick gets wet. That NEVER fails!
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 547
Likes: 1
From: Republic Of Texas
I think a lot of models use a similar float, easy to calibrate these if its way off
when mines on E I got just a lttle less than a gallon left
light comes on a little before that
if yours is that far off you could pull the tank unit out and bend the arm gently
when mines on E I got just a lttle less than a gallon left
light comes on a little before that
if yours is that far off you could pull the tank unit out and bend the arm gently