Gas Gauge Accuracy
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,927
Likes: 5
From: Midwest
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy
I did the same thing because the gauge showed more gas than I actually had. (Stayed "full" too long, showed gas when tank was dry.) The low fuel light worked ok, though, coming on with about 3/4 gallon remaining. I finally got my hand into the tank and had the same confusion over which way to bend the float. Thinking about it this way helped me visualize what to do. If the tank is dry and the gauge is showing gas in the tank, logic says that the float needs to be lowered.
And if that doesn't work, bend it the other way
One thing to note--my low fuel light now comes on with about 1 1/2 gallons left.
And if that doesn't work, bend it the other way
One thing to note--my low fuel light now comes on with about 1 1/2 gallons left.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg, FL
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy
The accuracy of my gauge is fine AFTER the first half of the gas is burned. The light normally comes on with about 30 miles left in it. It just doesn't budge until I get 100 miles into a tank. After the first 100 miles, it works out to about 25 miles per quarter of gas showing down to 0.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg, FL
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy - Time for Pictures!
Ok, I took some pics to illustrate what I'm thinking. I'm figuring that in the stock configuration with a full tank, the fuel comes up above the highest point of travel of the plunger since the plunger maintains a full indication on the gauge for at least half a tank.
So this first picture shows the stock upper position of the float wire. I'm holding the float at the upper limit of its travel. This is the position it would be in with a full tank of gas. The upper blue line is shows the level of gas at a full tank. The bottom blue line is lined up with the bottom of the plunger. Gas has to burn off from the top line to the level shown by the bottom line before that float moves.
Now, since I'm not done thinking about it, I didn't bend the wire up, but the curved arrow shows the direction I'm thinking of bending it. If I do bend it in that direction, the relationship of the plunger to the fuel level when topped off changes to something like this. In this case, much less gas has to burn off to reach the bottom of the float allowing the float to start dropping.
So I'm still thinking that bending that wire up maybe a half an inch will do two things:
1) The gauge won't stay pegged on full as long.
2) The low fuel light should come on with more gas in the tank.
So this first picture shows the stock upper position of the float wire. I'm holding the float at the upper limit of its travel. This is the position it would be in with a full tank of gas. The upper blue line is shows the level of gas at a full tank. The bottom blue line is lined up with the bottom of the plunger. Gas has to burn off from the top line to the level shown by the bottom line before that float moves.
Now, since I'm not done thinking about it, I didn't bend the wire up, but the curved arrow shows the direction I'm thinking of bending it. If I do bend it in that direction, the relationship of the plunger to the fuel level when topped off changes to something like this. In this case, much less gas has to burn off to reach the bottom of the float allowing the float to start dropping.
So I'm still thinking that bending that wire up maybe a half an inch will do two things:
1) The gauge won't stay pegged on full as long.
2) The low fuel light should come on with more gas in the tank.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 448
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy - Time for Pictures!
your reasoning is sound, but I still don't get the point of it? What you are doing is moving the inaccuracy to the other end of the spectrum. instead of the gauge showing full longer, it will now show empty sooner. once again, let us know how it turns out.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg, FL
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy - Time for Pictures!
The reasoning is that it's off by 100 miles before it even starts to move. I'm sure it'll never be as good as a car gas gauge, and I realize the behavior is a little OCD on my part since I do use the trip meter and I know at 170+ miles I need to be thinking "gas station", but like I said, if I can improve it--even if not perfect it--since it's all apart anyway, why not??
I'm kinda hoping someone who knows for sure one way or the other will chime in.
BTW: My VFR has 8 led bars for the gas gauge and each bar extinguishes at about 25-28 miles per bar from start to finish. If a freakin Honda can do it.....!
I'm kinda hoping someone who knows for sure one way or the other will chime in.
BTW: My VFR has 8 led bars for the gas gauge and each bar extinguishes at about 25-28 miles per bar from start to finish. If a freakin Honda can do it.....!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,927
Likes: 5
From: Midwest
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy - Time for Pictures!
ORIGINAL: jmxp
BTW: My VFR has 8 led bars for the gas gauge and each bar extinguishes at about 25-28 miles per bar from start to finish. If a freakin Honda can do it.....!
BTW: My VFR has 8 led bars for the gas gauge and each bar extinguishes at about 25-28 miles per bar from start to finish. If a freakin Honda can do it.....!
Remember, this is the same company that puts a worthless air temperature gauge in the dash then sells the gauge that SHOULD be there--oil temperature--as an option. Knowing H-D...if enough people complain, you can expect them to address it in the 2008 Parts & Accessories Catalog with a "Fuel Gauge Re-calibration Kit", featuring a chrome-plated billet arm that's bent the way the stock one SHOULD be and a float embossed with the bar & shield. MSRP--what else, a Hundred Dollars (H.D.)
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg, FL
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy - Time for Pictures!
LOL! Normally I don't do that, they are very different bikes for very different purposes, however; as far as gas gauge technology goes, I don't think Honda has a secret weapon super high tech device. I bet the components look an awful lot alike.
J
J
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 25,962
Likes: 9,763
From: Montana & Arkansas
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy - Time for Pictures!
If the gauge in any of my vehicles seems basically OK, which my Ultra does, then only thing I wanta do is find out where on the gauge is it gonna run out. Unless, someone is trailing along with extra gas, then I'll do this on the Ultra by stowing a couple of Sigg aluminum fuel bottles, so I can fill with enough to get to the next fillup. Good Siggs won't leak a bit. Not good to run most vehicles dry, so I won't do this more than once.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,881
Likes: 32,991
From: King George, VA
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy
Ok, ya all got me curious about this float thing, so I opened my gas tank and struck a match to check for mine.
Not really, but looking at the picture makes me think, what if you could extend the float out on a longer wire. As it is now, the float can't be on the top of the tank only because of the limit of the reach of the stock wire.
Make sense?
Not really, but looking at the picture makes me think, what if you could extend the float out on a longer wire. As it is now, the float can't be on the top of the tank only because of the limit of the reach of the stock wire.
Make sense?