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[mark]

there's no way to adjust fuel gauge according to my HD service mgr...

[grc]

there's no way to adjust fuel gauge according to my HD service mgr...

If you just go by the standard operating procedure from Harley, then he is partially correct.  Harley doesn't have an adjustment method in their manual; there is no simple screw to turn or electronic tweak with their computer that will adjust the reading of the gauge.  But that does not mean there is no way to do it, it just means Harley won't pay them to do it.

BTW Mark, did your guy actually test your gauge with the Harley tester and the shop manual diagnostic routine, or did he just blow you off like most do as soon as you mentioned the gauge?  There are tests, and there are specs for the resistance of the sending unit at both Full and Empty positions.  If the gauge or the sending unit doesn't pass the tests, Harley prescribes replacement of the part.  The problem with this is that the tolerances for the parts, especially the sending unit, are so wide that you can have a gauge that reads anywhere from below E to nearly 1/4 tank with a supposedly good sending unit and no gas in the tank.  That is not acceptable, but if you take your complaint directly to Harley and they still refuse to do anything about it, you can fix it yourself (or pay someone to do so).  The sending unit is a simple device with a float attached to a variable resistor by way of a rod.  It's a fairly simple but time consuming trial and error operation to slightly bend the float rod so that the gauge reads accurately at the Empty end of the scale.   


Jerry

[opee6969]

Of all the girls in my harem, not any of the gas guages work the same. Some fall fast and some fall slow, but I have noticed the 6 gallon tank takes some work to get all the way full. The venilation is poor in these tanks compared to the 5 gallon tanks and when the pump shuts off, I can still nurse over a gallon of fuel into the tank. I fill each one up to the top of the neck every time and my distance per tank is very predictible. The big dressers get around 200-225 miles before the light comes on and the DTE is usually around 37 miles. When they hit 0 miles to empty, there's about half a gallon left. I pushed my '11 RGUSE to 265 miles out West and still had .3 gallons left. If you can't tell, I don't like stopping for fuel anymore than I have to. lol

Opee

[Dr.D]

If I try to max fill my tank it is possible to get a gasoline bath under hard acceleration. My fuel gauge just recently started working less well. At full fill it will only go up to about 3/4 of full. The range function seems unaffected and I agree that the tripmeter is the best tool for assessing fuel levels. I have not run out of gas yet.

[Eagle Eye]

My milage sucks.  I'll be getting a tune as soon as possible, hopefully to correct this situation.  

Still, the gauge on my bike is not calibrated properly.  The first half of the tank takes twice as long to go, than the second half.  I commute 28 miles each way to and from work.  If the bike is just below the 1/2 tank mark, I have to stop for gas before reaching home or approx 56 miles.  I can do two round trips on the top half (112 miles), but will see the reserve light before reaching work if the tank is below the half mark when I leave home.  Less than 180 miles on a tank or 36 mpg seems anemic at best.  

Perhaps letting up on the throttle a bit might help...ha!   I do like to run between 70 and 75 when on the freeway, but it would appear the milage should still be better than this. Tune time, for sure.  But that still does not correct that crazy out of whack gauge.

I'll try shifting into sixth at 55, but that seems awful low.  Lugging the engine not a great idea.  At 65 the tach is at around 22k rpm, if it drops much lower than that it seems too sluggish.  Guess it's like anything else, we trade performance for economy.

I've had two occasions where it started dying on me due to fuel starvaton and I slowed to the side of the road, put both feet on the ground and shook the bike back and forth.  It got me to a station within a mile.  Whew.  Think I read that here somewhere.  It was a life saver.  Never good to be stopped on the freeway, for any reason. 

Hey Ernie...it was on 85 just before the Winchester exit headed South.  I nursed it into the Chevron station on Winchester next to Aldo's.  No gas station ever looked so good!  Now I know it's liomits....

[Twolanerider]

 At 65 the tach is at around 22k rpm

Holy Chit Batman !     

[grc]

Please trust me, running in 5th instead of 6th at 55 mph is NOT causing your gas mileage problem.  There is a point where the engine becomes less efficient as you drop the rpms and increase the load on the engine by sticking it in too high a gear.  It's better to let the engine run free in 5th versus chugging it in 6th, for a lot of reasons.


Jerry

[Dr.D]

Please trust me, running in 5th instead of 6th at 55 mph is NOT causing your gas mileage problem.  There is a point where the engine becomes less efficient as you drop the rpms and increase the load on the engine by sticking it in too high a gear.  It's better to let the engine run free in 5th versus chugging it in 6th, for a lot of reasons.


Jerry

100% agree. Lugging is not better for milage or longevity. I questioned the dealer about the book recommendation and he agreed that it was to low.

[Rio]

Please trust me, running in 5th instead of 6th at 55 mph is NOT causing your gas mileage problem.  There is a point where the engine becomes less efficient as you drop the rpms and increase the load on the engine by sticking it in too high a gear.  It's better to let the engine run free in 5th versus chugging it in 6th, for a lot of reasons.


Jerry

Jerry, curious, what HD store in NW Indiana did or do you deal with?  I'm very familiar with the area, I used to live further west in Frankfort, Il.  I have a few friends that have been going to Valpo for years and are part of that chapter.  Most went to Crete but that was one of the stores that closed up.

[mark]

If you just go by the standard operating procedure from Harley, then he is partially correct.  Harley doesn't have an adjustment method in their manual; there is no simple screw to turn or electronic tweak with their computer that will adjust the reading of the gauge.  But that does not mean there is no way to do it, it just means Harley won't pay them to do it.

BTW Mark, did your guy actually test your gauge with the Harley tester and the shop manual diagnostic routine, or did he just blow you off like most do as soon as you mentioned the gauge?  There are tests, and there are specs for the resistance of the sending unit at both Full and Empty positions.  If the gauge or the sending unit doesn't pass the tests, Harley prescribes replacement of the part.  The problem with this is that the tolerances for the parts, especially the sending unit, are so wide that you can have a gauge that reads anywhere from below E to nearly 1/4 tank with a supposedly good sending unit and no gas in the tank.  That is not acceptable, but if you take your complaint directly to Harley and they still refuse to do anything about it, you can fix it yourself (or pay someone to do so).  The sending unit is a simple device with a float attached to a variable resistor by way of a rod.  It's a fairly simple but time consuming trial and error operation to slightly bend the float rod so that the gauge reads accurately at the Empty end of the scale.   


Jerry

When I took the bike in for initial service, I mentioned the fuel gauge wasn't accurate (my last Harley's gauge was pretty good).  Ser. Mgr. said there was really no way to adjust and I don't think they did anything.  Since, I've spoken to lots of riders and who have the same issue.  I just use the reserve feature to figure "how many miles to empty" and it's very accurate.  After installing my GPS, I can't see the gauge now anyway. BTW, you would think if we can put a man on the moon, that the MoCo could develop a better fuel gauge...there's no use having a gauge that's so far off it can't be relied upon.

[grc]

Jerry, curious, what HD store in NW Indiana did or do you deal with?  I'm very familiar with the area, I used to live further west in Frankfort, Il.  I have a few friends that have been going to Valpo for years and are part of that chapter.  Most went to Crete but that was one of the stores that closed up.

I've mostly dealt with Crete, which of course is now closed.  I've also bought one bike and had some work done in the past at Calumet (previously H-D of Hammond).  Refused to do business with the folks in Valpo, since they always jacked up their prices above MSRP and basically treated folks like they were doing them a favor selling them anything.  Used to stop in once in awhile and look around, but kept my wallet in my pocket.

Sadly none of the choices around here are very good when it comes to service work.  The best was Crete, also the most knowledgeable parts and sales people.  So of course they were the ones to go out of business.   


Jerry

[Eagle Eye]

Holy Chit Batman !     

Oops, in a hurry 2.2K  Hah!

[sixgun95]

Im going to bring it in next week to have them fix mine. I figure for the price I paid its not much to ask for and if they do I will make a hell of a downpayment on a 911 Carrera! javascript:void(0);

Let you know how it goes, I will say my dealer, Buddy Stubbs in Scottsdale has treated me awesome and don't expect that to change. 

[MadCVORG]

BMW cars have had the MPG and 'miles remaining' computers for quite some time. I've never seen one that is accurate, and the one time I relied on it was when it left me stranded within eyesight of my base, when it told me I still had 15 miles of fuel left. Bottom line is to ride the old Harley way--no gas gauge, use the trip odometer, and definitely have a good idea of how long you can go before you're fored down behind enemy lines. And thank the guys who invented the Reda gas can.......

[sixgun95]

BMW cars have had the MPG and 'miles remaining' computers for quite some time. I've never seen one that is accurate, and the one time I relied on it was when it left me stranded within eyesight of my base, when it told me I still had 15 miles of fuel left. Bottom line is to ride the old Harley way--no gas gauge, use the trip odometer, and definitely have a good idea of how long you can go before you're fored down behind enemy lines. And thank the guys who invented the Reda gas can.......

Couldn't disagree more, Have had 2 late model BMW cars, currently have one and mine are dead nuts on.  Regardless, we shouldn't accept broke being OK!  Its a QC & Engineering issue that needs to be fixed.