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    #1

    Fuel gauge accuracy

    1981 GS650GL, completely stock.

    I refurbished the tank and fuel sender unit while restoring the bike. The sender unit works but I'm concerned about the accuracy. I drove about 107km and the fuel gauge indicated less than 1/4 tank remaining. When I filled up it took just over 7 litres. The tank holds almost 16 litres so the gauge is obviously way off. Is there any way to calibrate these things or are they just this inaccurate? Or could I have installed incorrectly? Maybe it's rotated one way or the other by one screw?
    Tags: None
    #2
    You can calibrate them to be very accurate.
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...tatesMap-1.jpg

    Life is too short to ride an L.

    Comment

      #3
      The gauge on my 750 is pretty close, when it says half a tank, it will take about 2.1 gallons, at 1/4 of a tank, usually about 2.8 give or take. That's at hiway speeds of around 75 or so
      sigpicMrBill Been a GSR member on and off since April 2002
      1980 GS 750E Bought new in Feb of 1980
      2015 CAN AM RTS


      Stuff I've done to my bike:dancing: 1100E front end with new Sonic springs, 1100E swing arm conversion with new Progressive shocks installed, 530 sprockets/chain conversion, new SS brake lines, new brake pads. New SS fasteners through out. Rebuilt carbs, new EBC clutch springs and horn installed. New paint. Motor runs strong.

      Comment

        #4
        My needle moves off the stop - I've got some fuel.
        Good as it gets for now.
        It used to be more accurate and I might do something about reclaiming its accuracy, but I suspect I'll probably have replace the sender.
        ---- Dave

        Only a dog knows why a motorcyclist sticks his head out of a car window

        Comment

          #5
          What I do is to take half of what the service manual says is tank capacity and put it in the tank. For example if it says 5 gallons I put in 2 1/2 gallons ( I use the gas pump as my gauge and fill a gas can ). Turn the key on and wait a good 2 minutes to be sure reading is as settled as its gonna get.

          If the gauge reads low of the half tank mark, you bend the float arm down a little. If it reads higher than half you bend it up. Reinstall the unit and out the gas back min and repeat the process till you re happy with where the needles finally settles.
          MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
          1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

          NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


          I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

          Comment

            #6
            Originally posted by chuck hahn View Post
            What I do is to take half of what the service manual says is tank capacity and put it in the tank. For example if it says 5 gallons I put in 2 1/2 gallons ( I use the gas pump as my gauge and fill a gas can ). Turn the key on and wait a good 2 minutes to be sure reading is as settled as its gonna get.

            If the gauge reads low of the half tank mark, you bend the float arm down a little. If it reads higher than half you bend it up. Reinstall the unit and out the gas back min and repeat the process till you re happy with where the needles finally settles.
            Useful info, thanks.
            ---- Dave

            Only a dog knows why a motorcyclist sticks his head out of a car window

            Comment

              #7
              I also calibrate a gauge when I get a bike. Similar to what Chuck Hahn does, but I do it at the REServe point, not half a tank. I will empty the tank into an external can with the petcock in the RUN position and note the gauge position when the flow stops. Bend it as Chuck said to improve your accuracy.

              Personally, I don't care if the gauge stays on FULL for the first 75 miles then starts dropping like a rock, but when it gets to that transition from the white line on the gauge to the red line, I KNOW I will be reaching for REServe soon.

              It also follows the level once you are on REServe, letting you know when you are almost EMPTY.

              .
              sigpic
              mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
              hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
              #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
              #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
              Family Portrait
              Siblings and Spouses
              Mom's first ride
              Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
              (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

              Comment

                #8
                I like them to be pretty close also Steve. Like you said, when the edge of the redline is at the needle I got about 1 gallon left till reserve is hit. I think of it more as an indicator rather than a precision gauge...LOL
                MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
                1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

                NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


                I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

                Comment

                  #9
                  Originally posted by tkent02 View Post
                  You can calibrate them to be very accurate.

                  how do you calibrate? interesting thread.
                  Rob
                  1983 1100ES, 98' ST1100, 02' DR-Z400E and a few other 'bits and pieces'
                  Are you on the GSR Google Earth Map yet? http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=170533

                  Comment

                    #10
                    You damn kids are so spoiled with your fuel gauges. I open the fuel cap and use a lighter to look inside the tank to see how much fuel I have.

                    Note: For anyone reading this who thinks I'm serious: I'm not.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Originally posted by srg View Post
                      You damn kids are so spoiled with your fuel gauges. I open the fuel cap and use a lighter to look inside the tank to see how much fuel I have.

                      Note: For anyone reading this who thinks I'm serious: I'm not.

                      I don't carry a lighter Though I do have a 2100 lume tactical flashlight in my bag...that would be like sticking the sun in your tank huh.
                      Last edited by mrbill5491; 06-09-2014, 01:01 PM.
                      sigpicMrBill Been a GSR member on and off since April 2002
                      1980 GS 750E Bought new in Feb of 1980
                      2015 CAN AM RTS


                      Stuff I've done to my bike:dancing: 1100E front end with new Sonic springs, 1100E swing arm conversion with new Progressive shocks installed, 530 sprockets/chain conversion, new SS brake lines, new brake pads. New SS fasteners through out. Rebuilt carbs, new EBC clutch springs and horn installed. New paint. Motor runs strong.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Whatever happened to felling the sides of tank as you ride? This ain't rocket science. At least it shouldn't be.
                        http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...tatesMap-1.jpg

                        Life is too short to ride an L.

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Originally posted by tkent02 View Post
                          Whatever happened to felling the sides of tank as you ride? This ain't rocket science. At least it shouldn't be.

                          That works great on a propane tank, I've tried that a few times on my bike, just not that much of a difference. One would think because of the heat in this area you could feel a good difference, I couldn't. One I did on my fuel gauge was to extend the red line a bit lol.
                          sigpicMrBill Been a GSR member on and off since April 2002
                          1980 GS 750E Bought new in Feb of 1980
                          2015 CAN AM RTS


                          Stuff I've done to my bike:dancing: 1100E front end with new Sonic springs, 1100E swing arm conversion with new Progressive shocks installed, 530 sprockets/chain conversion, new SS brake lines, new brake pads. New SS fasteners through out. Rebuilt carbs, new EBC clutch springs and horn installed. New paint. Motor runs strong.

                          Comment

                            #14
                            It's what I've been doing for decades, give it a little slap, you can tell even with gloves on.
                            http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...tatesMap-1.jpg

                            Life is too short to ride an L.

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Chuck how are you bending the arm? Are your removing the sending unit from the tank each time?

                              Comment

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