Fuel Gauge is unruly

[Jethro]

My fuel gauge is all over the place on the 83 1100. When I am sitting still with the bike on, it seems to register just fine, and when I am crusing and keeping the RPM's down it's fine. But as soon as I start reving the engine and riding hard, the gauge drops to register empty. I am sure that the sending unit is not at fault, because I had it out recently and it tested fine.

Could this be an indication that my electrical system is slipping at high rpms? It seems to charge fine, but I have been concerned about power loss at high RPM's. As stated in previous posts, I have trouble getting to 100, this bike should be able to hit 100 no problem.

Of course, I am dreading diving into the stator papers, but I know I have to do it.

[Jethro]

Bump, for my bad self.

[Guy]

The fuel gauge doesn't draw any significant current, so if you had a problem with your charging system, it would manifest itself with more serious symptons such as the starter not cranking, indicators not flashing, dim lights etc. The guage on my GS1000 has a mind of it's own too and I've never figured it out. Doesn't bother me anymore. Let me know if you get to the bottom of yours.

[Anonymous]

hi

I think this is normal, these gauge dont respond real fast......

[Anonymous]

More than likely the fuel is being sent to the back of the tank during acceleration. The same thing will happen during a left hand turn or when parked uphill.
Mike

P.S. One of these days I'm gonna remember to hit 'post reply' instead of 'new topic'.:-)

[Jethro]

Bringing back an old post as this is still happening.

Author Message
mikemilburn Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:08 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More than likely the fuel is being sent to the back of the tank during acceleration. The same thing will happen during a left hand turn or when parked uphill.

The gauge drops even when I am standing still and just reving the throttle. Let it drop to low rpms and it goes back up, quickly. I have to check that charging system. But wouldn't the headlight get dim as well if that was the case?

[crag antler]

Damn, man. 8O 8O :x :x
And I thought you had the fuel gauge down straight. Did'nt you take it apart and tech it out??
Let's hope it's a simple fix because as soon as I get my new tank painted, I'm going to look into why my doesn't work.

[Jethro]

Yeah, I definitely fixed what was wrong with it at first, the pickup to the coil wasn't hitting the coil at all. This is different. It is directly related to engine rpms. Weird, I know, but in neutral, if I rev hard to like 4 or 5 grand, the fuel gauge drops quickly. Go back to idle and up it comes. I'm convinced the sender is in perfect shape, this is something electrical in the voltage to the unit itself.

One of these days I will get off my a$$ and do the stator papers!

[Billy_Oliver880]

not that im an expert but could it be something with your tach messing with your fuel gauge? Is the tach electronic or mechanical. I am going to assume its mechanical. Just an thought. Maybe you are getting some sort of electrical interference from something else?

[Flatline_Racing]

Could easily be some current induced by some noisy coils. Had a similar problem on a kz based dragbike, the fuel injection computer kept on resetting, turnsout it was the coils causing it.

[focus frenzy]

check the terminals in the harness plugs to the sender and the plugs to the instrument cluster.