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[ima29]

Exactly, Yeah, bring back the old Linkerts an Knuckleheads! (You'll just be on the side of the road for other reasons ) Hoist!

On the side of the road but at least you usually can fix it with the tools included in the tool box.
Kelly

[grc]

Bikes never used to have fuel gages. Odometer and looking inside tells you how much is there. It works pretty good that way. Count on that silly gage and we'll be getting you gas on the side of the road! Hoist!  8-)

Ahhh, Howie, one small difference you're overlooking.  Bikes may not have had fuel gauges, but they had a reserve position on the petcock.  Now we have EFI and no reserve, so a reasonably accurate gauge is a necessity in my opinion (and the MoCo should get it's head out of it's azz and provide one, rather than the mickey mouse piece of chit they currently provide).  

I detailed my modification to make the gauge accurate in the SEEG forum probably a year or so ago, and it has remained consistently accurate since.  My method utilized a variable resister; you can also bend the float rod to make the gauge read correctly, at least for the all important 2nd half of the tank.  For those who aren't into DIY, make the dealer adjust it under warranty.  Maybe if everyone did that the MoCo would figure out that it would be a lot cheaper to give us a good gauge versus spending all that dough on warranty claims.  [smiley=duhk.gif]

Jerry

[Hoist!]

Ahhh, Howie, one small difference you're overlooking.  Bikes may not have had fuel gauges, but they had a reserve position on the petcock.  Now we have EFI and no reserve, so a reasonably accurate gauge is a necessity in my opinion (and the MoCo should get it's head out of it's azz and provide one, rather than the mickey mouse piece of chit they currently provide).  

I detailed my modification to make the gauge accurate in the SEEG forum probably a year or so ago, and it has remained consistently accurate since.  My method utilized a variable resister; you can also bend the float rod to make the gauge read correctly, at least for the all important 2nd half of the tank.  For those who aren't into DIY, make the dealer adjust it under warranty.  Maybe if everyone did that the MoCo would figure out that it would be a lot cheaper to give us a good gauge versus spending all that dough on warranty claims.  [smiley=duhk.gif]

Jerry

Yes Jerry, reserve helps a lot. I kinda got used to aftermarket petcocks where you couldn't count on much reserve anyway. I'm just used to looking in my tank all the time and counting miles. Knowing your the mileage your bike gets is important. Figure I'll ask again if anyone knows. Is the low-fuel warning light tied into the same float and fuel gauge system or is it a separate sensor? Because that should basically be your reserve. I must say though, that my '03 RK gauge is very accurate. I don't know what to make of those LED things yet! Hoist!  8-)

[UK Dave]

I'm pretty sure the low fuel warning light is tied into the same mechanism as the gauge

I'll double check when I can find my manual

Cheers

Dave

[Chief]

I need to step off of the soap box I climbed on top of on Friday about the crappy fuel gauges.

So far, the one in the new bike is working very well. I haven't run any really long tanks yet, but so far, the movement has been very good, coming off of Full early and moving pretty smoothly.

Maybe they did their homework this time. Only time will tell.

Chief

[displacing air]

I thought they made the crappy fuel gauge so you could have a matched set...to go with the air temp gauge that doesnt read correctly!!!

Actually had my gas gauge and sending unit replaced on the 06...its reads close enough. I have had the low fuel light come on which reminded me to check miles and sure enough it was time for gas.

Barry

[grc]

I'm pretty sure the low fuel warning light is tied into the same mechanism as the gauge

I'll double check when I can find my manual

Cheers

Dave

The low fuel light is activated by the same sending unit as the gauge.  When the voltage drops to a certain value (due to the variable resister in the sending unit), the light is triggered.  That should occur at approximately 3/16 on the gauge.

Jerry

[Fired00d]

I thought they made the crappy fuel gauge so you could have a matched set...to go with the air temp gauge that doesnt read correctly!!!

Actually had my gas gauge and sending unit replaced on the 06...its reads close enough. I have had the low fuel light come on which reminded me to check miles and sure enough it was time for gas.

Barry

Barry,
Now that you mention the low fuel light that's another one of my pet peeves. That light is definitely in the wrong place. To me it seems to be hidden by the bottom of the needle. I've caught myself several times cruising along and realize the light is on and wonder how long it's been on. [smiley=nervous.gif]

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]

[Twolanerider]

Ahhh, Howie, one small difference you're overlooking.  Bikes may not have had fuel gauges, but they had a reserve position on the petcock.  Now we have EFI and no reserve, so a reasonably accurate gauge is a necessity in my opinion (and the MoCo should get it's head out of it's azz and provide one, rather than the mickey mouse piece of chit they currently provide).  

I detailed my modification to make the gauge accurate in the SEEG forum probably a year or so ago, and it has remained consistently accurate since.  My method utilized a variable resister; you can also bend the float rod to make the gauge read correctly, at least for the all important 2nd half of the tank.  For those who aren't into DIY, make the dealer adjust it under warranty.  Maybe if everyone did that the MoCo would figure out that it would be a lot cheaper to give us a good gauge versus spending all that dough on warranty claims.  [smiley=duhk.gif]

Jerry

Jerry, have done comparable fixes to gauges in some of the old cars over the years.  Things like that often become necessary if you want the instrument to report accurately because senders and instruments don't always stay attuned to each other as third part mftrs pick up supply of replacements for vehicles that may be decades old.  And on a car that often is not run through a tank of gas in one sitting it's very important to know how much gas is in the tank.

On the bike though I've been so in the habit for so long of going by the odometer that the gauge is just an amusement anyway.  As much as I'm willing to tinker with things on that machine the notion of tinkering with the fuel gauge for accuracy had just never crossed my mind.  It and the rain gauge really are space fillers whose only purpose is to give the dash some spatial symmetry.

[RJ749]

Barry,
Now that you mention the low fuel light that's another one of my pet peeves. That light is definitely in the wrong place. To me it seems to be hidden by the bottom of the needle. I've caught myself several times cruising along and realize the light is on and wonder how long it's been on. [smiley=nervous.gif]

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]

d00d, everytime you ride with the sun at your back it also makes the light nearly impossible to see come on.  

I have taken to religiously setting the trip and pulling in to a station short of terminal mileage, 140-150 to be comfortable depending on city or highway riding.

[Fired00d]

d00d, everytime you ride with the sun at your back it also makes the light nearly impossible to see come on.  

I have taken to religiously setting the trip and pulling in to a station short of terminal mileage, 140-150 to be comfortable depending on city or highway riding.

I do the same, it's just those couple of times I haven't checked the trip meter and look down and realize the light is on. Definitely will cause a little "oh chit, pucker factor " for a minute until you can look at the trip meter.

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]

[Twolanerider]

I have taken to religiously setting the trip and pulling in to a station short of terminal mileage, 140-150 to be comfortable depending on city or highway riding.

I've always filled up by mileage.  Too many years on too many pieces of hardware without fancy things like fuel indicators I guess.  Hell, there were a few without speedo/odo.  Thank god for reserve valves.  I start looking at around 125 with an eye to stopping at close to 150 during days on the road.  That makes for a nice comfortable ride in the two hour range and works out nicely for bike and butt.

[RJ749]

I do the same, it's just those couple of times I haven't checked the trip meter and look down and realize the light is on. Definitely will cause a little [highlight]"oh chit, pucker factor "[/highlight] for a minute until you can look at the trip meter. [smiley=pumpkin.gif]Ride Safe,Fired00d [smiley=fireman.gif]

Been there several times myself Gary, it does cause a rapid heartbeat for a second or two, especially with the fool gauge buried at E.

I've always filled up by mileage.  Too many years on too many pieces of hardware without fancy things like fuel indicators I guess.  Hell, there were a few without speedo/odo.  Thank god for reserve valves.  I start looking at around 125 with an eye to stopping at close to 150 during days on the road.  That makes for a nice comfortable ride in the two hour range and works out nicely for bike and butt.

On the CC trip I was amazed when running gas without ethanol added how many miles I could go, never went farther but the fill up took a lot less fuel.  Wouldn't have been confidant enough to try a longer ride.  Also, nothing wrong with a stretch and walk about while fueling. [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

[Twolanerider]

On the CC trip I was amazed when running gas without ethanol added how many miles I could go

Ditto.  The same bike that got 38-39 mpg coming across Kansas got 49-50 up there at altitude with the local fuel.  An unbelievable amount of difference.

[HDguy]

My gauge was not not indicating properly and  MOCO replaced the entire intank assy, that is pump, filter, etc. Seems to be working ok now.

Never the less, for the amount of money we spend on our scoots the fuel gauge should indicate accurately.

I don't know if it's true, but I was told that on the 07's that MOCO put the pump/ sending unit on the right side of the tank to keep the float from getting stuck when the tank is full, and /or the scoot is on the jiffy stand.