Tank lift
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Northstreet, michigan
Alright I'm gonna sound really stupid here, but I've never run any of my Harleys low enough for the reserves to come on. I didn't know it had a reserve. The lowest I ever got was when the range indicator comes on saying you have xx miles left. So the reserve comes on after this?
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2016
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From: Clearwater, Idaho
You're correct. All the "reserve" is on FI bikes is the fuel that is left after the low fuel indicator comes on.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 259
From: Northstreet, michigan
Ok yea this is a 17 lrs so the whole reserve thing really threw me off. I was searching Google tryin to figure it out cause it sounded like after the low range light, there was a reserve or "r" light.
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Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Great State of Canada
Alright I'm gonna sound really stupid here, but I've never run any of my Harleys low enough for the reserves to come on. I didn't know it had a reserve. The lowest I ever got was when the range indicator comes on saying you have xx miles left. So the reserve comes on after this?
Did you make note of the point where your fuel line connects to your tank ? Where mine is, you could tip the tank to 180 degrees vertical and not create a sump of more than a quart. There is the issue of the crossover being 3" higher but even if no gas crossed over, thanks to leaning as you ride, (unlikely), you wouldn't have increased the possible sump in the tank's high side by much, if any.
Bottom line, beyond the fact that you should have some idea as to how much fuel you have when the "50 km left" light or "LOW FUEL" indicators come on, don't worry about it. Many seasoned riders don't trust these things anyway and just go by their trip odometer instead.
You won't actually lose an appreciable amount of fuel access due to tank sumping with a 2" lift. If you merely go by your "fuel remaining" indicator though, it will appear that way, but thats wrong.
Last edited by HKMark23; Aug 25, 2017 at 10:12 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 309
Likes: 33
From: Littleton, CO
Once my low fuel light comes on I usually can then fill up with 2.5 gallons. I just wait until I hit 150miles on the odo to top it up.
I did a DIY 2" tank lift for about $6 and did not need to replace the fuel line.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...l#post16392199
I did a DIY 2" tank lift for about $6 and did not need to replace the fuel line.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...l#post16392199
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From: Beyond Fucital
You don't "loose" anything. You're reserve indicator will probably come on sooner, indicating you have less gas in your tank than you actually do. This just takes some rapid getting used to.
When the "R" light comes on, run your bike till your reserve reads only "LOW FUEL". Then fill up, noting the amount of fuel you have taken on. The difference between this and your tank's stated capacity is what you actually have left. Multiply that by your mileage, round it down (for a safety margin) and commit that to memory.
Look where your fuel line connects to the tank. Its near the rear of the tank no ? Tilting the tank up 2" won't reduce access to your fuel hardly any. It didn't for me and I have a 3" lift.
When the "R" light comes on, run your bike till your reserve reads only "LOW FUEL". Then fill up, noting the amount of fuel you have taken on. The difference between this and your tank's stated capacity is what you actually have left. Multiply that by your mileage, round it down (for a safety margin) and commit that to memory.
Look where your fuel line connects to the tank. Its near the rear of the tank no ? Tilting the tank up 2" won't reduce access to your fuel hardly any. It didn't for me and I have a 3" lift.
Last edited by RANGER73; Aug 26, 2017 at 10:23 AM.
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From: SWFL
Not true on older split tank bikes. You lose the fuel in the right tank once it get below the crossover tube then lose the fuel on the left tank once it gets lower than the petcock that's in the MIDDLE of the left side tank. So you do lose access to useable fuel. About 1/2 to 3/4's of a gallon. And it reduces to fuel available on reserve.
Note that this is only applicable to fuel injected bikes which the OP's bike is, not gravity fed carb bikes.
Last edited by Mchad; Aug 25, 2017 at 06:22 PM.
