Fuel Gauge Question

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Mar 1, 2010 | 08:32 AM

#21

MidnitEvil

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 6,235

Likes: 65

From: Joliet, Illinois

I don't remember having a fuel gauge on any of my metrics. Since they were all carbed, the usual plan was to ride until you hit reserve, then stop for gas. My WG is carbed, so I have a reserve and usually pretty much go by the same method.

Mar 1, 2010 | 08:43 AM

#22

shortride

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 6,932

Likes: 4

From: 46th State, USA

With 196 miles on a tank of fuel and the fuel guage sitting on empty without the low fuel light on, I stopped for fuel and only got 4.6 gallons into the 6 gallong tank. Tha figures almost 43 MPG. The fuel guage on my '09 Ultra Classic must be way off.

Keep in mind that most electronic devices have a 10% plus or minus accuracy tolerance.

Last edited by shortride; Mar 1, 2010 at 09:43 AM.

Mar 1, 2010 | 09:01 AM

#23

t059736

Road Captain

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 654

Likes: 11

I couldn't agree more with what the author writes.
Why is it that Harley's "poor quality, lack of interest in fixing, or an uncaring attitude" acceptable to HD owners?
If your other auto's fuel gauge was a poor; it would probably be unacceptable.
My fuel gauge accuracy is terrible. It's the ONE thing that has convinced me to ride with a GPS, since most of my rides put me on secondary roads.
Cheers

Mar 1, 2010 | 10:32 AM

#24

xk207

Cruiser

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 171

Likes: 0

From: Wichita, KS

It's Harley not Hallmark. They don't care enough to give the very best. How do you suppose Willie G. would react if the fuel gauge on his truck worked like the fuel gauges on the bikes he sells? Oh well, we love our Harleys so we live with it.

Mar 1, 2010 | 10:58 AM

#25

dumernarock

Cruiser

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 155

Likes: 0

My Nissan Pickup was off by almost 5 gallons.
My Toyota pickup is off by 4 gallons
My Suburban is of by 4 gallons
My bike is off by about a 1/2 gallon

Mar 1, 2010 | 12:33 PM

#26

MidnitEvil

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 6,235

Likes: 65

From: Joliet, Illinois

Quote:

Originally Posted by dumernarock

My Nissan Pickup was off by almost 5 gallons.
My Toyota pickup is off by 4 gallons
My Suburban is of by 4 gallons
My bike is off by about a 1/2 gallon

Imagine if the fuel gauge on your bike were off by 5 gallons. A 20 gallon tank being off by 4 or 5 gallons is about the same as your bike being off by 1/2 gallon.

Most manufacturers set the fuel gauge to be deliberately off in the hopes of saving people who push it too far from running out of gas.

Mar 16, 2010 | 11:26 PM

#27

frebird

Novice

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 17

Likes: 0

From: Maryland

Your sending unit is probably stuck..take the dash unit off, and there are 10 little screws to get to sending unit..after plate is removed you may be able to loosen the stuck float or if not you will have to remove unit by cutting hose clamp off of fuel line in tank and removing sending unit, then there is a extruding part of unit you can cut off so the float will not hang up on it, reinstall and should work..I have been through this with my Heritage, had same problem...This is for the person with a fuel guage stuck on full..

Last edited by frebird; Mar 16, 2010 at 11:34 PM. Reason: delete

Mar 17, 2010 | 12:59 AM

#28

krusty1

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 3,886

Likes: 3

My Honda Valkyrie Interstate fuel gage is pretty good, and so is the one on my 2010 FXD (above the 1/4 mark anyway), but I still rely on the trip odometer (which is all the other bikes have). As someone posted, different terrain and speed (especially headwinds or tailwinds) makes it a real guessing game until you get a feel for what conditions produce certain mpg's. A reasonably functioning fuel gauge just lets you be a little more predictive on how fuel consumption is proceeding according to the model you've developed in your head.

This FXD is the first fuel injected bike I've ever owned, which gives me a bit more anxiety about when I'm getting close to empty. With the carbed bikes I always know how much I've got left after I go to reserve, and I can ride in a manner to make the most of it.

About a week ago I went on a 350 mile dayride with a couple of friends with Harley baggers. I had no idea what my real range would be per tank, and I made the mistake of thinking the little 'remaining range' readout on the LED odometer really meant I had the range it said I did. I was about 40 miles out from the next available gas stop (out west it can be a long ways to the next gas station) and when I checked the remaining range it said 50 miles. That was tight, but I figured I'd make it. F*ck it, if I didn't make it the fancy pants bagger boys could just get me some gas.

Well...the reserve light came on shortly thereafter, and when I looked at the remaining range it said 15 miles...and then it just said 'Lo'!. No ****....just said 'Lo'....brilliant! Still had about 30 miles to go. I kept going, expecting to flame out any minute, with no reserve valve, yet I made it to the gas station. Filled it up, and by my tank volume I still had over a gallon in the tank! Probably for the next year or so I'll be so paranoid I won't let it get much beyond 100 miles before filling up....hate that 'empty feeling'.

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