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TOPIC: Re:Fuel light flashes 8 times
#1024276
daveto (User)
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Fuel light flashes 8 times 4 Months ago  
2003 road star carbureted 1600 still running fuel pump. So I had my first long bike trip yesterday (800km)concerned with fuel stops so I filled the tank more than I ever have before. Started with half tank and gauge read half tank, filled Into the filler neck ( I normally stop below neck). My gauge reads empty and fuel light flashes 8 times, once I get down to 3/4 tank the gauge jumps up to 3/4 and flashing stops. Every time someone got gas on our trip I also topped off and light flashed until 3/4 again all day long. I suspect my sending unit won't read full? My manual is on my toolbox at work so I am unable to check manual till tomorrow. Any help you can offer is great. I searched forum and checked battery is tight and green connector under tank is clean and connection seems good. I believe the float in tank does float because 3/4 to empty the gauge reads normal..
 
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#1024277
txulrich (User)
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Re:Fuel light flashes 8 times 4 Months ago  
Replace the sending unit/float. Known problem that they wear out.
 
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#1024278
ctkog (User)
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Re:Fuel light flashes 8 times 4 Months ago  
+1 sending unit, I also did have my gauge act up once and it ended up being my seat pressing on the connector.

http://roadstarclinic.com/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,187/func,view/id,1017713/catid,14/
 
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---------- NOTHING STRAIGHTENS MY HEAD OUT BETTER THAN AN ENTIRELY CROOKED ROAD-----------
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#1024279
daveto (User)
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Re:Fuel light flashes 8 times 4 Months ago  
Thank you. Riding season is trying to end here so I will tackle it over the winter. It only concerns me on long country trips where fuel stops are far between. On my normal rides there is gas everywhere and my reserve does work so I don't think I will run out cruising my local roads. Thanks for the quick replies! I guess I will overfill and check resistance of sending unit at that time and check specs in manual. I suspect it will be over range and causes the 8 flash fuel light code. I will post here what I find but may not be until spring. Can't take apart so close to end of season, I may miss a riding opportunity. On a side note the old fellas I rode with all had heated vest liners and I want one now! And maybe a nice seat cover pad, the big ed was good but my ass still hurt after 12 hours..some of these guys have been riding 60 years and they took me on some really sweet roads, there was 35 bikes in the group mostly Harley's, 2 honda cruisers and a new gold wing and I was the only Yamaha, everyone came over to tell me I had the most reliable bike on trip which was nice.. I didn't tell them my light was flashing,hehe.
 
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#1024280
jd750ace (User)
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Re:Fuel light flashes 8 times 4 Months ago  
As long as you are riding with “built” HDs, you will NEVER be the first one to run out of gas. Always know your average MPG and recognize that 5 times that number is your absolute range in miles. When you hit reserve, divide your mileage since fill up by 4, and that’s a distance you CAN make if you must to refuel. You will be able to go a bit farther than that, provided you ride the same way you were getting to reserve. Always zero one of your trip meters at fill up, and never trust your ride to the gauge or the light.
 
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#1024282
ultrastar (Moderator)
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Re:Fuel light flashes 8 times 4 Months ago  
If you're riding with Harley guys that have an 09 or later I wouldn't go by that that's when they went with a 6 gallon tank and a six speed transmission you're going to run out of gas before they do
 
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#1024283
jd750ace (User)
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Re:Fuel light flashes 8 times 4 Months ago  
ultrastar wrote:
If you're riding with Harley guys that have an 09 or later I wouldn't go by that that's when they went with a 6 gallon tank and a six speed transmission you're going to run out of gas before they do

There’s always an aftermarket 103 (twin cam or Evo) in the bunch that can’t make 100 miles between fill ups, at least around here.

That is also why I referenced the fast conservative math technique for figuring YOUR range. Not many folks have a 200 mile ass anyway, but you should NEVER let group mentality carry you somewhere you should not be, like out of gas. Topping every stop is the best strategy to not be the one that causes the unscheduled stop.
 
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Last Edit: 2017/10/22 12:23 By jd750ace.
 
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#1024284
daveto (User)
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Re:Fuel light flashes 8 times 4 Months ago  
Thx, great tips. This was my first group ride and I enjoyed going so far from home without having to call for help if I broke down.
 
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#1024286
ctkog (User)
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Re:Fuel light flashes 8 times 4 Months ago  
A fuel petcock is one thing I do miss with my 08 model since they decided to go inside the tank with the fuel pump. Have only the indicator light. I am able to calculate pretty accurately by using my average mpg's and tank capacity.. but only because my mpg averages happen to be very consistent. If they weren't it would be a bigger problem. Anyone else miss having a fuel valve on their FI model?
 
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---------- NOTHING STRAIGHTENS MY HEAD OUT BETTER THAN AN ENTIRELY CROOKED ROAD-----------
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#1024290
BikerRon (User)
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Re:Fuel light flashes 8 times 4 Months ago  
I don’t miss them. Everything else I have doesn’t have one.

Well, one old Craftsman tiller from the ‘60’s has a fuel shutoff.
 
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Last Edit: 2017/10/23 16:04 By BikerRon.
 


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