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[Gordito]

I've noticed on my Ultra the fuel indicator light will illuminate when the actual gauge is showing 1/4 tank. I realize that during the ride the gas in the tank sloshes around, but was wondering if anyone else's stays on once lit or shuts off once the bike is on level pavement. Any input would be appreciated as I had a gauge problem on my RK and had to have it replaced.

Thanks!

[FR8TRN]

Once it comes on it stays on til you turn the bike off.  Mine usually comes on just a little below 1/4 tank, and if I stop right away I put in just under 4 gallons.  The fuel gauges on these seem to be pretty accurate compared to my '04, personally I tend to trust the gauge (along with my tripmeter) more than the light.

[ultrafxr]

I think the low fuel warning light comes on too early.  Supposed to have .9 gal remaining when it comes on so if fill immediately should hold 4.1 gal.  Like yours, mine seems to come on with about 1/4 tank remaining.  Doesn't bother me but fact that it is so darn dim and can get buried under the speedo needle does bug me.  I have to really look to see if it is illuminated on a bright sunny day.

[hd-dude]

I don't trust my guage or the light, I rate it one notch above the air temp guage,

Use the trip meter [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

[UltraPolecat]

Don't get me started on that da*n worthless air guage!

[FR8TRN]

I think the low fuel warning light comes on too early.  Supposed to have .9 gal remaining when it comes on so if fill immediately should hold 4.1 gal.  Like yours, mine seems to come on with about 1/4 tank remaining.  Doesn't bother me but fact that it is so darn dim and can get buried under the speedo needle does bug me.  I have to really look to see if it is illuminated on a bright sunny day.

I'll take a little early anytime, my '04 it would come on, I'd stop almost immediately and it would take 4.8 gallons.  I "adjusted" the sending unit myself, it helped but I wouldn't recommend it, a real PITA....

[Gordito]

Thanks guys!!

[ggraves427]

Life will be alot easier if you just play like the only gas guage you have is the trip meter.  Tape a picture of your dog over the gas guage.

[06ULTRASE]

I've COASTED into a gas station more than once with NO gas and the damn gauge is reading better than 1/4 tank and I don't think I've ever seen the light. Had it in to be fixed once still doesn't work. Thinking about the local dealerships "so called service department"  gets me going everytime I think about it.

[greglyon]

my fltri light goes on around 153 and takes 4.3 gallons
my flhrsei2 went on at 156, the same moment it sputtered and quit  
the idea of the dog's picture over the fuel gauge has merit  

[grc]

In theory, the low fuel light should come on with 0.9 gallons remaining, which would be approximately 3/16 on the gauge (5.4 gallons to fill from dead empty to little holes in filler neck).  Once the light comes on, it stays on regardless of angle until you shut the bike down.  There is a delay built in to prevent the light coming on too early due to fuel slosh, so when you fire the bike back up the light doesn't come back on immediately.

Since the MoCo saw fit to make this light a "stealth" part and hide it behind the speedo needle, it is probably best to not depend on it (especially if you ride at 60 mph a lot).  I guess it would have taken a few brains for them to swap the location of the high beam indicator (not terribly important) and the low fuel light (much more important).  My best advice is to learn through repeated trials just where your gauge is when you have 1.0 gallons left, and when you get to that point start looking for a gas station.  Remember, some have reported only getting 25-35 mpg, so one gallon isn't a whole lot of reserve.

BTW - for those whose gauges read too high: if the dealer can't / won't fix it, there is an easier way than pulling the sending unit and bending the float rod.  Adding a variable resister into the sending unit circuit will allow you to adjust the reading without ever cracking the tank open.  As FR8TRN noted, pulling the sending unit on these EFI bikes is a major PITA, with many possibilities for screwing something up.  http://flhrsei.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1118059114/15/#29

Jerry

[grc]

I've COASTED into a gas station more than once with NO gas and the damn gauge is reading better than 1/4 tank and I don't think I've ever seen the light. Had it in to be fixed once still doesn't work. Thinking about the local dealerships "so called service department"  gets me going every time I think about it.

There have been more than a few reports of the float getting hung up on the internal fuel line and not letting the gauge read below a certain point.  Is your gauge accurate at 1/2 tank?  If it is, then this is a very good possibility.  If it is also way off at 1/2, then the calibration of the gauge or sending unit is out of spec. and they should replace the defective part.

I can relate to your feelings about the dealer's service department - I will only take my bike to my selling dealer for major warranty items.  Otherwise, I just fix the stuff myself and eat the cost.  Much easier than leaving the bike, having to call them to check on status because they can't seem to call me, going to pick up the bike and finding that they didn't fix anything, but did manage to add a few scratches, etc.  Doing my own repairs has probably kept me out of jail, if you know what I mean.  [smiley=rifle.gif]

Jerry

[UltraPolecat]

There are good dealers out there guys.  I am able to trust one in particular explicitly.  Do they make mistakes?  Sometimes.  Do they stand behind their work?  Absolutely.

It happens to be the closest to my home, but I would ride 100 miles to deal with them if they weren't.

We will put them to the test if my paint clouds up!

[jfscheck]

What I always do on my Harley's

Drive to the warning light - then pull over immediately and fill her up.

Do this 3-4 cycles and you will have a great indication of what amount of fuel you have left in the tank when the light comes on and the indicator of the fuel gauge.

[VaEagle]

What I always do on my Harley's

Drive to the warning light - then pull over immediately and fill her up.

Do this 3-4 cycles and you will have a great indication of what amount of fuel you have left in the tank when the light comes on and the indicator of the fuel gauge.

That's a good plan jfscheck if you can do it. [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]
My problem with the light is it's dim and hard to see in bright sunlight then it's hidden under the speedo needle when you are traveling around 60mph. Once or twice I have looked down to see it on and didn't see when it first came on and thought "how long has that been on?"  I think the gauge itself on my bike is close to accurate but my MPG does vary depending on speed and how much stop and go driving. I tend to use the odometer for mileage estimate per tankful. Never had a gauge or light for 9 years on my Fatboy and did ok with that method.