Help me please.
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Stage III
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Help me please.
I recently took my 2004 Fatboy out of the garage for the first time this year. I checked the fluids, tire pressure, and started riding. My gas mileage has dropped from approx. 40 miles per gallon down to about 20. I have no loss in power and am not sure what could be the problem. Oh yeah, it is a carbureated model. If any one has any idea, I'd sure like to hear it. Thanks.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,615
Likes: 9
From: Escondido, CA
Maybe someone is messing with you and taking some of your gas when you're not watching the bike. Take a long ride and check the mileage before going home.
Saw a movie with Walter Mathau where he and his grandson would add gas to his neighbors VW Bug. The neighbor bragged every day about how great his mileage was. Until Walter started draining some gas out every day. The neighbor was next seen at the VW dealer screaming at the service guy about something being wrong with the car and they better find it.
20mpg from 40mpg would have the plugs so fouled with fuel that the bike would probably not run too well. You'd probably notice black smoke also.
Unless it's draining into your engine. You might want to check your oil?
Saw a movie with Walter Mathau where he and his grandson would add gas to his neighbors VW Bug. The neighbor bragged every day about how great his mileage was. Until Walter started draining some gas out every day. The neighbor was next seen at the VW dealer screaming at the service guy about something being wrong with the car and they better find it.
20mpg from 40mpg would have the plugs so fouled with fuel that the bike would probably not run too well. You'd probably notice black smoke also.
Unless it's draining into your engine. You might want to check your oil?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,936
Likes: 20
From: Driftless Area
+1 to what's been said, maybe you've got a cracked fuel line. do you shut off the fuel petcock when done riding? Other than gas leaking out somewhere I can't posssibly see that kind of drop in mpg, without affecting the operation of the motor. my .02.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,656
Likes: 9
From: Northwest Arkansas
Yep, same here. It should be running like crap, fouled plugs or a full crankcase.
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Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
fresh gas and then write back and see what happens..
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Joe Kucinski
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 1
From: North Carolina
Pull the carb, clean her up real good, replace the fuel line, and filter (if you have one) Replace the plugs, and put three cap fulls of Sea Foam into a full tank of fresh gas. Try to stay away from the ethanol gas at first. Oh yeah, everyone is right about the bike running like a one legged man in a potatoe sack race, are you sure you hit the keys on your calculator right?
