HD fuel gauge..., useless!!!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,424
Likes: 0
From: Hoboken, New Jersey
but very true!
Exactly. The thing is that when you working with a 4.5 gallon tank a small bend in the float arm could change things quite a bit. If I was planning on making this adjustment, and I may because the gauge on my 03 is 50/50 at best. I would drain the tank until there is exactly .5 gallon in it, then set the float arm so its just hitting E. I guess w=once the temps start hitting the 30's I will pull it apart and start adjusting.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 0
From: Dikes, windmills & wooden shoes
Way I figure it, if Harley didn't put that stock piece of crap on there, there wouldn't be an excuse to flog all the after sales replacements. Gotta look at it from the perspective of the average Harley rider bein' of an age that probably needs reading glasses just to see that tiny guage anyway. Then they also position the little window so that nobody can see it at a glance from a normal riding position either. But, the good news is, for an extra $140-200 you can buy a range of replacement caps with all kinds of flashing lights. Almost diabolical wouldn't you say
Years of just flippin' the reserve petcock and now that I'm at an age were short term memory starts to become a problem, I gotta try and remember to reset my trip odometer every time I tank up
Wouldn't ya just know it
Years of just flippin' the reserve petcock and now that I'm at an age were short term memory starts to become a problem, I gotta try and remember to reset my trip odometer every time I tank up
Wouldn't ya just know it
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,047
Likes: 3
From: Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
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
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 1
From: Lakeland Florida
My 07 UC gauge has a mind of its own, never the same whenever I ride. I always reset the tripmeter at fill up and start thinking about refueling around 160 miles with one gallon left.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 0
From: Dikes, windmills & wooden shoes
I figgered it out boys - 2 and a half hours is about all I can go without havin' to pee and when I'm out travelin' that's also about the amount of time before I'm thinkin' it's time to fill up again
and when I'm out travelin' that's also about the amount of time before I'm thinkin' it's time to fill up again