gas tank question
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Novice
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
gas tank question
I just picked up a 98 custom 1200. \\; The dealer told me to fill the 4.5 gal tank up around 90 miles. \\; I've been setting the fuel switch to on (at least that's where the arrow is pointing) and riding. \\; The other day, at around the 70 some mile mark it sputtered and stopped. \\; I switched over to the reserve tank and made my way to the gas station. \\; When I filled it up, the gas hose automatically switched off after around 1.5 gallons. \\; That's around the size of the reserve and I was expecting to be putting around 3 gallons in instead of 1.5. \\; Could there be an issue with the fuel switch? \\; Maybe its reversed?
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
From: Mill Hall, PA
RE: gas tank question
You should be able to get a hell of \\;a lot more than 90 miles out of a 4.5 gallon tank. I can get almost 150 miles out of my 3.3 gallon before switching to reserve. Sounds like there may be something wrong with your switch or something else. I am sure there are others on here who will come to your rescue. (I would go look at mine to make sure, but hubby took it to work today[:'(])
Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From:
RE: gas tank question
I have a 4.5 gallon tank on my 2008 1200R. \\; The low fuel light used to go on around 114 miles and then the light would go off and on every few minutes. \\; I had the dealership look at it. \\; They drained the tank and said the light stayed on. \\; I don't think they ever addressed the early activation. \\; But, now it goes on at 130 miles. \\; The gas milage I'm getting shows that the tank should go dry at 190 miles.
 \\;
Basically, the light lets me know I have 70 miles in which to find gas. \\; I don't know if that really addresses your problem, but the issues are in the same ball park.
 \\;
Basically, the light lets me know I have 70 miles in which to find gas. \\; I don't know if that really addresses your problem, but the issues are in the same ball park.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
RE: gas tank question
thanks guys, I'm almost positive the petcock is stock. \\; Mine is just like that: res(up), off(left), on (down). \\; That's strange. \\; I might just set it to res and see how far it goes.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 1
From: Deep South Texas
RE: gas tank question
Just because the pump handle kicked out, it does not mean the tank was full. \\; Did you see the fuel level at the very top of the tank after the fill-up? \\;
 \\;
When I fill-up, the handle kicks out all of the time. \\; I normally have to pull the nozzle almost all the way out of the tank and run the nozzle on slow in order to completely fill the tank. \\; When it is full, you will see the fuel right at the bottom of the cap neck. \\; Depending on how far you stuck the fuel nozzle in the tank, as soon as the liquid level reaches it the handle is designed to kick off.
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Just a thought.
 \\;
When I fill-up, the handle kicks out all of the time. \\; I normally have to pull the nozzle almost all the way out of the tank and run the nozzle on slow in order to completely fill the tank. \\; When it is full, you will see the fuel right at the bottom of the cap neck. \\; Depending on how far you stuck the fuel nozzle in the tank, as soon as the liquid level reaches it the handle is designed to kick off.
 \\;
Just a thought.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,578
Likes: 4
From: Northern California
RE: gas tank question
ORIGINAL: jshurak
thanks guys, I'm almost positive the petcock is stock. \\;\\\\\\; Mine is just like that: res(up), off(left), on (down). \\;\\\\\\; That's strange. \\;\\\\\\; I might just set it to res and see how far it goes.
thanks guys, I'm almost positive the petcock is stock. \\;\\\\\\; Mine is just like that: res(up), off(left), on (down). \\;\\\\\\; That's strange. \\;\\\\\\; I might just set it to res and see how far it goes.
Not sure of your viewpoint, but you may be looking at the petcock handle backasswards. \\; The tail of the handle should be pointed down \\;for the "on" position, up for "res", and left for "off". \\; Are you looking at the tail of the handle, or the other end? \\; Also, as cyclonecutting said, you must see the gas at the top of the tank. \\; Hold the fill rubber back so the nozzle doesn't click off.
 \\;
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 613
Likes: 33
From: East Alton, IL
RE: gas tank question
Mine is like Dorkman described. Actually if you look closely you may see that there is a little arrow on the short end of the petcock switch. Besides if you switch were backwards when it sputtered you would have been pushing it to the gas station. I am pretty sure that you just didn't fill it. Motorcycles are not like cars that have a long filler tube. You are filling the tank and if you just shove the nozzle in and let it go until it clicks off you didn't fill your tank. Every bike I've owned you have to do the same thing. I shove it in and let it go until it shuts off then I pull it out so I can see by the nozzle and dribble the last 1/2 gallon or so until it fills to the bottom of the filler opening. In some states there is a rubber boot for vapor recovery on the filler nozzle and you have to hold that up with one hand and pull the handle with the other while watching it. For the first few times take it easy or you'll end up with a face full of gas...
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
RE: gas tank question
ORIGINAL: jdvorchak
Mine is like Dorkman described. Actually if you look closely you may see that there is a little arrow on the short end of the petcock switch. Besides if you switch were backwards when it sputtered you would have been pushing it to the gas station. I am pretty sure that you just didn't fill it. Motorcycles are not like cars that have a long filler tube. You are filling the tank and if you just shove the nozzle in and let it go until it clicks off you didn't fill your tank. Every bike I've owned you have to do the same thing. I shove it in and let it go until it shuts off then I pull it out so I can see by the nozzle and dribble the last 1/2 gallon or so until it fills to the bottom of the filler opening. In some states there is a rubber boot for vapor recovery on the filler nozzle and you have to hold that up with one hand and pull the handle with the other while watching it. For the first few times take it easy or you'll end up with a face full of gas...
Mine is like Dorkman described. Actually if you look closely you may see that there is a little arrow on the short end of the petcock switch. Besides if you switch were backwards when it sputtered you would have been pushing it to the gas station. I am pretty sure that you just didn't fill it. Motorcycles are not like cars that have a long filler tube. You are filling the tank and if you just shove the nozzle in and let it go until it clicks off you didn't fill your tank. Every bike I've owned you have to do the same thing. I shove it in and let it go until it shuts off then I pull it out so I can see by the nozzle and dribble the last 1/2 gallon or so until it fills to the bottom of the filler opening. In some states there is a rubber boot for vapor recovery on the filler nozzle and you have to hold that up with one hand and pull the handle with the other while watching it. For the first few times take it easy or you'll end up with a face full of gas...
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 421
From: Lansing mi
RE: gas tank question
'jshurak' \\; Stock tank on a 98 custom is 3.3 gal, if you have a 4.5, then someone installed that tank on your bike. 4.5 tanks are stock on 04 and up customs. But even a 3.3 should take more then 1.5 to fill from reserve...