Gas Gauge Accuracy
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg, FL
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy
Good idea. That might work too, and it can't be that hard to change. It's just piano wire. I'll check it out when I get home to see how hard it would be to remove the original and replace it with something longer. The trick there will be to not hit the top of the tank.
FYI: For those considering taking their tanks apart...The book says to replace the canopy gasket and the ten 'self sealing' screws. The gasket is $6 and the screws are $7.
FYI: For those considering taking their tanks apart...The book says to replace the canopy gasket and the ten 'self sealing' screws. The gasket is $6 and the screws are $7.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg, FL
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy - Time for Pictures!
First things first: I replaced the stock fuel gauge with the flush mount fuel gauge, so I don't have a 100% answer either way. I don't know if the end result is because the new gauge is more accurate or because of the bend, but here's what I did.
I decided to bend the float wire up about 1/4" at the bend, which translates to just under 1" at the float end. I installed the fuel canopy, filled it up and ran for about 45 miles. The flush mount has 7 light indicators. The first light went out at about 23 miles, the second light started flickering and went out at 45 miles. So at approximately 22-23 miles per light, I'm looking at ~160 miles per tank. I normally get 180 miles per tank before the warning light and 215 before empty.
The good news is that the gauge doesn't stay pegged on full for 90+ miles now and it doesn't look to be too far off from what it should read exactly. Ideally I'd get about 27 miles per led which would put me at 190 miles on empty.
The 45 miles I've put on it though were around town miles, so the mileage is going to be a little lower.
Overall, I'd call this a success. Gauge comes off full after 20+ miles instead of 90, and I'm satisfied with that.
I decided to bend the float wire up about 1/4" at the bend, which translates to just under 1" at the float end. I installed the fuel canopy, filled it up and ran for about 45 miles. The flush mount has 7 light indicators. The first light went out at about 23 miles, the second light started flickering and went out at 45 miles. So at approximately 22-23 miles per light, I'm looking at ~160 miles per tank. I normally get 180 miles per tank before the warning light and 215 before empty.
The good news is that the gauge doesn't stay pegged on full for 90+ miles now and it doesn't look to be too far off from what it should read exactly. Ideally I'd get about 27 miles per led which would put me at 190 miles on empty.
The 45 miles I've put on it though were around town miles, so the mileage is going to be a little lower.
Overall, I'd call this a success. Gauge comes off full after 20+ miles instead of 90, and I'm satisfied with that.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Surprise, AZ
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy - Time for Pictures!
Glad you were able to get it adjusted. The gauge on my RK Custom was dead nuts on but the one on the SG is worthless. I may take it out and put in a second air temp gauge.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
From: MA
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy - Time for Pictures!
Just a note that what you are indicating as the line of fuel where the float begins to register is not totally accurate. The actual line is probably 1/3 to 1/2 the total height of the float from the bottom edge. Since your before/after images are relative to one another it shouldn't matter but just trying to point out that buoyancy of the float material (foam, air filled part, etc...) plays into it.
You may not want to bend the rod too much thinking your flotation device rides on the 'surface' of the fuel.
Looks like you've already made the modification so if it works fine then you can completely ignore this post......
D
You may not want to bend the rod too much thinking your flotation device rides on the 'surface' of the fuel.
Looks like you've already made the modification so if it works fine then you can completely ignore this post......
D
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 1
From: North Jersey
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy
ORIGINAL: jmxp
I always use the trip meter, but since it's apart, why not try and improve it???
I always use the trip meter, but since it's apart, why not try and improve it???
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy
Jmxp,have you considered draining the tank then refilling with lets say 1/2 tank then adjusting the float to that?
Just a thought.
If the gauge or sending unit is not accurate in the full range,then what?Replace sending unit or gauge.?
My '06 RG was phuked up since day one.The dealer replaced everthing and is still not correct.
Just a thought.
If the gauge or sending unit is not accurate in the full range,then what?Replace sending unit or gauge.?
My '06 RG was phuked up since day one.The dealer replaced everthing and is still not correct.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy
ORIGINAL: jmxp
......So in that case, maybe it would make more sense to raise the float in order to get movement earlier rather than later.
......So in that case, maybe it would make more sense to raise the float in order to get movement earlier rather than later.
On my bike at around 110 miles it takes about 3 gallons and my gauge reads 1/2 tank, so I figure the second half a tank is about 2 gallons.
[IMG]local://upfiles/4026/3B409260D9904CBCBA90FCCDF7B12925.jpg[/IMG]
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg, FL
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy
ORIGINAL: 1FLTRI4ME
Jmxp,have you considered draining the tank then refilling with lets say 1/2 tank then adjusting the float to that?
Just a thought.
If the gauge or sending unit is not accurate in the full range,then what?Replace sending unit or gauge.?
My '06 RG was phuked up since day one.The dealer replaced everthing and is still not correct.
Jmxp,have you considered draining the tank then refilling with lets say 1/2 tank then adjusting the float to that?
Just a thought.
If the gauge or sending unit is not accurate in the full range,then what?Replace sending unit or gauge.?
My '06 RG was phuked up since day one.The dealer replaced everthing and is still not correct.
By bending it up just a bit, I've gotten pretty close to spot on accurate. I want to run a couple of tanks through it to see what happens under different driving conditions and I want to compare the gauge reading to the trip meter to see how close they line up.
I understand many people just use the trip meter, as do I, but the gauge is there, and I believe its accuracy is improved and more representative of what's in the tank. Sometimes I forget to reset the trip meter, so it's nice to know the gauge can be close.
J
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg, FL
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy - Time for Pictures!
ORIGINAL: dionne51
Just a note that what you are indicating as the line of fuel where the float begins to register is not totally accurate. The actual line is probably 1/3 to 1/2 the total height of the float from the bottom edge. Since your before/after images are relative to one another it shouldn't matter but just trying to point out that buoyancy of the float material (foam, air filled part, etc...) plays into it.
You may not want to bend the rod too much thinking your flotation device rides on the 'surface' of the fuel.
Looks like you've already made the modification so if it works fine then you can completely ignore this post......
D
Just a note that what you are indicating as the line of fuel where the float begins to register is not totally accurate. The actual line is probably 1/3 to 1/2 the total height of the float from the bottom edge. Since your before/after images are relative to one another it shouldn't matter but just trying to point out that buoyancy of the float material (foam, air filled part, etc...) plays into it.
You may not want to bend the rod too much thinking your flotation device rides on the 'surface' of the fuel.
Looks like you've already made the modification so if it works fine then you can completely ignore this post......
D
Good point. I made a minor adjustment that appears to have given me the desired result which is to start showing consumption on the gauge prior to using half the gas in the tank. In the end, I made a 1/4" bend upward at the "V" or ~ 3/4" - 7/8" at the float and that was enough.
J
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg, FL
RE: Gas Gauge Accuracy
ORIGINAL: 1FLTRI4ME
Jmxp,have you considered draining the tank then refilling with lets say 1/2 tank then adjusting the float to that?
Just a thought.
If the gauge or sending unit is not accurate in the full range,then what?Replace sending unit or gauge.?
My '06 RG was phuked up since day one.The dealer replaced everthing and is still not correct.
Jmxp,have you considered draining the tank then refilling with lets say 1/2 tank then adjusting the float to that?
Just a thought.
If the gauge or sending unit is not accurate in the full range,then what?Replace sending unit or gauge.?
My '06 RG was phuked up since day one.The dealer replaced everthing and is still not correct.
1) It's a very simple device and it performed consistently. Stayed full for 90+ miles, then dropped off at 25 miles per quarter.
2) It's not much more complex than a toilet float. I opted to make an assumption that on a 4 month old bike that performed consistently (albeit wrong) from day one, it was probably not a fault condition but a calibration issue.
By thinking through it and making a minor change, I achieved a result that satisfies me. It starts showing consumption at ~ 23 miles vs. 90+.
J
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