fuel gauge issues
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 118
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From: Sunshine State
fuel gauge issues
I ride a 2000 electra glide classic and noticed the other day the needle in my fuel gauge starts bouncing when it gets below 3/4 of a tank. This is annoying. Any suggestions on what it could be? It will be bounce from one end to the other of the fuel marker. Any advice would be great.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida
I have a '99 ultra and mine starts bouncing around at about 3/4 tank. Was hoping just the gauge. I really don't want to start messing around with the tank stuff. I just make sure I gas up at about 160 miles...
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
the sender is a float ( kinda like the float in your toilet tank) sloshing fuel will make the float bounce around.
a bad wire will cause the float to go from a "normal" reading to zero ( or all the way full sometimes) - back and forth really fast- this could also be bad traces on the sender rheostat in the tank....but the reading will not go above the "normal" reading ( as it might if the float was riding up on a wave)
the speed of the needle can help you find out which...a 'wiring' or electrical problem, or splishy splash of the fuel
mike
a bad wire will cause the float to go from a "normal" reading to zero ( or all the way full sometimes) - back and forth really fast- this could also be bad traces on the sender rheostat in the tank....but the reading will not go above the "normal" reading ( as it might if the float was riding up on a wave)
the speed of the needle can help you find out which...a 'wiring' or electrical problem, or splishy splash of the fuel
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Apr 10, 2014 at 03:51 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 19,653
Likes: 835
From: North Carolina
I ride a 2000 electra glide classic and noticed the other day the needle in my fuel gauge starts bouncing when it gets below 3/4 of a tank. This is annoying. Any suggestions on what it could be? It will be bounce from one end to the other of the fuel marker. Any advice would be great.
LiiT
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
if it sticks in place- that is often the internal fuel line wrapped around or blocking the float from moving.
if you can, cancel your order until you are sure what the problem is.
Could be just a matter of repositioning the fuel lines will save you $116
mike
if you can, cancel your order until you are sure what the problem is.
Could be just a matter of repositioning the fuel lines will save you $116
mike
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 69
From: Centerville, ohio
From what I've seen the bouncing needle syndrome is from a bad gauge. The needle should rise slowly when the key is turned on. If it jumps to the proper level like 3/4, the gauge has lost its dampening capabilities. I have a new gauge that I need to install myself.
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Cruiser
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,488
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From: Maryland near DC
I agree with this..bouncing is a sign of the guage not dampening correctly...the guage has circuitry that take an average fuel height reading and send it to the needle on the dial..
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 17
From: Orange, VA,
I just went thru this, had my bike painted and after I put the tank back on my gauge read empty all the time. I grounded the wires and the gauge went to full so the gauge was ok, when I took the 2 wires off, my sending unit fell into my tank, it is only held in the round plate with a small square piece of rubber, so be careful, leave it connected to the wires and take the round plate off before you take the center wire off, this will ensure the sending unit does not fall into the tank. After I fished my sending unit out and put it all back together it worked fine, guess it was just stuck.