fuel gauge help please
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 287
Likes: 1
From: Lincolnshire UK
fuel gauge help please
i have taken out my fuel gauge on my 2006 RKC and the reserve light is staying on
is there any way of making it work as it should without having to put the fuel gauge back in please ?
just so i have at least a fuel notification light as such
is there any way of making it work as it should without having to put the fuel gauge back in please ?
just so i have at least a fuel notification light as such
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
the reserve light works with the sender for the gauge.
you could cut the wire or remove the bulb to turn it off.
if you need the function then the sender will need to be put back in the tank.
Mike
you could cut the wire or remove the bulb to turn it off.
if you need the function then the sender will need to be put back in the tank.
Mike
Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Orange NSW
Matt it is not that simple I am about to put sometime into the function of this circuit
But I am going to hazard a first guess and say that the guage is an integral part of the circuit
I assume without testing that the following is how the circuit works
When the fuel sender moves it changes the resistance therefore changing the voltage drop across the resistance therefore varying the voltage being applied to the gauge on my model it has a low fuel light which at a certain voltage will switch on.
Without the gauge as part of the circuit it will not work correctly
My gauge the Six shooter led model has never worked properly since new
I currently have the bike pulled down for bar changes so while it is in this state I am going to try and get to the bottom of the problem if I can I will see if I can get the light to work without the gauge by maybe putting some form of constant load on it stay tuned
Steve
But I am going to hazard a first guess and say that the guage is an integral part of the circuit
I assume without testing that the following is how the circuit works
When the fuel sender moves it changes the resistance therefore changing the voltage drop across the resistance therefore varying the voltage being applied to the gauge on my model it has a low fuel light which at a certain voltage will switch on.
Without the gauge as part of the circuit it will not work correctly
My gauge the Six shooter led model has never worked properly since new
I currently have the bike pulled down for bar changes so while it is in this state I am going to try and get to the bottom of the problem if I can I will see if I can get the light to work without the gauge by maybe putting some form of constant load on it stay tuned
Steve
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
exactly...so the 'warning light' is on because it needs positive input from fuel pushing on the fuel sender float to turn off.
so cut the wire or remove the bulb...
Mike
so cut the wire or remove the bulb...
Mike
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
most probably the sender- on some models it is bending and arm or tab that the float is mounted on.
Sometimes the fuel lines or wiring can get tangled up in the float. have a look at that.
in the event of an electrical problem ( car or motorcycle) the gauge will read "empty" no matter the actual fuel level.
mike
mike
Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Orange NSW
Better not hijack this thread on my problem no the gauge is not accurate works but not correctly that is one problem i will sort eventually.
So yes i got motivated and started playing in the shed quickly not real accurate because of voltage issues (was using a battery charger) but i will be more precise later by hooking up a battery this will then replicate the bike voltage when running.
The gauge when it gets a full signal from the sender i.e 40 Ohms gets a signal of approx 3 volts sent back to it via yellow/white wire.
When the tank is empty and the sender reads 240 ohms the voltage rises and the needle slowly drops to empty therefore i am assuming that the low fuel light has a breakover voltage somewhere below battery voltage like say 10volts this then switches the low fuel light on.
I need to get some more gear to confirm this as i have to be able to connect up my speedo onto the test circuit and as its sealed i have to be a bit careful lol
I replicated the wiring system by using my original gauge and a variable resistor (thats what the fuel sender is) and just wound it from 40 ohms to 240 ohms and measuring output voltage.
Im no rocket scientist and if someone thinks I'm barking up the wrong tree feel free to jump in and correct me
But im trying
Cheers
Steve
So yes i got motivated and started playing in the shed quickly not real accurate because of voltage issues (was using a battery charger) but i will be more precise later by hooking up a battery this will then replicate the bike voltage when running.
The gauge when it gets a full signal from the sender i.e 40 Ohms gets a signal of approx 3 volts sent back to it via yellow/white wire.
When the tank is empty and the sender reads 240 ohms the voltage rises and the needle slowly drops to empty therefore i am assuming that the low fuel light has a breakover voltage somewhere below battery voltage like say 10volts this then switches the low fuel light on.
I need to get some more gear to confirm this as i have to be able to connect up my speedo onto the test circuit and as its sealed i have to be a bit careful lol
I replicated the wiring system by using my original gauge and a variable resistor (thats what the fuel sender is) and just wound it from 40 ohms to 240 ohms and measuring output voltage.
Im no rocket scientist and if someone thinks I'm barking up the wrong tree feel free to jump in and correct me
But im trying
Cheers
Steve
Last edited by redmick13; Aug 26, 2012 at 01:41 AM.
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
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Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Orange NSW
Well got the accuracy problem solved on the bench by adding resistance in parallel so the guage now no longer shows empty on half a tank of fuel
Also went the whole hog (no pun intended) and cut my speedo open to trace out the low fuel circuit and we found no reason why when all put back together it should not work as intended
Cheers
Steve
Also went the whole hog (no pun intended) and cut my speedo open to trace out the low fuel circuit and we found no reason why when all put back together it should not work as intended
Cheers
Steve
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