i'm a newbie harley owner. bought a 95 harley fatboy and ran out of gas.
i have two gas caps but don't know if it's one tank or one is main and the other reserve?
do i fill each separately?
and what would normal mpg be?

 

The 95 is an evo and has split tanks. The gas from the right tank crosses over into the left tank and the left feeds the carb via the petcock. The petcock has three positions on, off and reserve. I fill the left side first and then the right side. I have several softails and they get from 35-45 mpg. The 45 mpg one being mostly stock.

 

thanks.
so the dumb question. i set the petcock to on and just wait until i stall out and then move to reserve.
to clarify, when the specs say it's a 4 gallon tank that is the total between the two sides?
there is not an additional 'reserve' tank is there?

 

No dumb questions. It will stumble when close to reserve. The Fatboy tanks are 4.2 gallon combined. You still have approximately .75 gallon left when you go to reserve and should still be able to go 20+ miles (depending on mpg). So don't be in the desert when you find out.

Do some testing and find out your mpg, then use your odometer/trip meter as a gas gauge. Keep in mind wind will affect your mpg. I usually run around 100 miles then start looking for gas, by then my legs need a stretch. Should be able to stretch it out to at least 150 miles if you want.

 

one more clarification. i ran out of gas but i think it was because i had the petcock set to reserve.
should the 'wing' of the petcock 'cover' the word, i.e. be over it?
on mine 'on' is at the 'bottom so i have the 'wing' over the word but i had it up over the word reserve when i ran out.

thanks for your info

John

 

when the wing is up you are on reserve mode. so it is out of gas. Keep wing down & when she stumbles turn it up.

 

Reset your trip miles gauge every time you fill up, refill when you get around 150 miles. Been doing this for ten years on my 97 heritage. Dont mix up your gas caps, the left side is reverse thread.

 

And on 95 and earlier always shut it to off when not riding.