Gas Gauge Problems

[km5bh]

I overfilled the pig and ended up with a bent fuel sender tube. I took it off and pulled it out and the spring at the bottom fell off and I had to fish it out.
The tube came off and I ran a tool that just fit through the tube to straighten it out. That worked.
I couldn't find the nut that held it all together and took a little JB Weld and coated the treads and put it all back together. Four hours later the JB weld solid and I tried it out before I put it back in. Worked great.
I turned it upside down and the gauge showed full. I flipped it back to the right side up and the gauge fell back to empty and the low fuel light came on.
Well I put it all back together and put a couple of gallons of gas in and still shows empty.

Any thoughts?

I'm going to take the hide off of her tomorrow night. I have a two week trip that starts Saturday and sure would hate to do it like a Harley with no fuel gauge.

Help!!

Lewis

[was]

Not much in the way of substantive help, I'm afraid, just thinking out loud. You know that the electrical contacts work by turning the gauge upside down, so you have ruled that out as a problem. The Manual indicates that "The immersion-tube sensor has to be calibrated if it or the fuel tank has been replaced. Calibration allows the reserve fuel capacity of the fuel tank to be adjusted to suit customer preferences." (p. 16.8) You didn't replace your sender tube, but removing it may produce the same result. This requires a trip to the dealer and hookup to the Moditec. I do not know if this is a "must do" procedure, or if it only needs to be done if you want to calibrate in the "reserve" amount of fuel.
Sender tubes get bent in one of two ways that I've read about (there may be many more that I haven't read): vacuum in the fuel tank causing the sides to collapse inward, bending the tube, or pushing a gas nozzle too far down and to the center of the bike, hitting the tube. Have you noticed a sucking sound as you unscrewed the gas cap? If so, you likely have a vacuum condition, and it may have bent the tube again. Do you still have the charcoal cannister? I'm not sure if it is possible to "overfill" the bike and have gas sucked back to the cannister (or be blocking the line from the cannister to the tank), but if you have a vacuum in the tank it is likely from a blocked line to the cannister, a sludge filled cannister, or a blocked open air line from the cannister to the rear of the bike. You'll have to find it and fix it or the tube will continue to get bent.
If your sender tube is straight I'm out of ideas. Good luck and let us know what you find.

[km5bh]

The vacumm canister is unhooked. And I got the tube straight. I took the plastic off last night and I'll get the sender out tonight. If it doesn't work this time, I'll take the one off the other older bike and see if I can get it working. I don't have time to wait for the dealer, so if it shows a different level than the current sensor, I just have to live with it.

Thanks

Lewis

[jzeiler]

I don't know what kind of float this unit uses but I chased an MGB fuel sender that worked out side the tank but not in. Turned out the hollow plastc float was full of gas so it wouldn't "float". Could have a similar problem.

[skaboots]

I dont hardly look at mine, the onboard computer is much more accurate...so far :bmw:

[km5bh]

I dont hardly look at mine, the onboard computer is much more accurate...so far :bmw:

My computer has told me that I had around 135 miles to empty for weeks. I have it working now. I pulled the one out of the older LT. I will just get a new one when I get back from the Arctic. We leave for Alaska Saturday.

Lewis

[km5bh]

I don't know what kind of float this unit uses but I chased an MGB fuel sender that worked out side the tank but not in. Turned out the hollow plastc float was full of gas so it wouldn't "float". Could have a similar problem.

That may be it. I swapped it out this evening.

Thanks

Lewis


Wish I could spell or at least remember to start out on the home keys.

[skaboots]

didnt think about the computer and gas gage talking to one another... ;)