Faulty Fuel Gauge?

Discussion in 'Technical Help' started by Riggers, Jul 31, 2020.

  1. Riggers

    Riggers Well-Known Member

    Jul 26, 2020
    136
    83
    Hull
    Hi all. I bought a new T100 Bonneville a few weeks ago and have recently noticed that no matter how much fuel I try to squeeze into the tank the last bar of the fuel gauge never comes on. Only the first 7 'illuminate' which, whilst not a catastrophe, is mildly annoying.

    Has anyone else experienced this? I'm wondering if this is a known 'problem' with this model or if I'm just unlucky and should have it looked at under warranty.
     
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  2. String

    String Member

    Jan 14, 2019
    71
    18
    Sunderland
    The gauge on my 120 is very erratic.
    For instance after I brim it, I’ve seen it show the range as anywhere between 160 and 200 miles.
    Perhaps it works the range out depending on how hard or not you ride it as sometimes it increases after 30 or 40 miles of riding.
    I tend to largely ignore it now and just work fuel stops out at 150 mile intervals which leaves me plenty in reserve.
     
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  3. BigCLM

    BigCLM Senior Member

    Nov 30, 2017
    1,018
    243
    San Rafael, CA
    Yes same thing on my Street Twin. But I really don't care as I monitor my miles ridden and know when to stop for gas. I consistently get 60 mpg and can easily do 150 miles on a full tank. The 'old school way' always works.
     
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  4. Riggers

    Riggers Well-Known Member

    Jul 26, 2020
    136
    83
    Hull
    It works! Yesterday I made a determined effort to s-q-u-e-e-z-e in the very maximum amount of fuel I could into the tank, and when I turned on the ignition all eight bars came on (eventually).

    Snag is now I have the bike booked into A1 at York to have the gauge checked out and I'm wondering whether to bother. But surely it can't be right to have the tank almost at spillage level before the gauge registers full?.
     
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  5. Riggers

    Riggers Well-Known Member

    Jul 26, 2020
    136
    83
    Hull
    I just thought I'd update this thread on my 'faulty' fuel gauge. After I posted the above the gauge carried on being erratic, and almost never showing full. So I reported the fault again to A1 Moto at York and the appointment to have it fixed was today.
    I had a coffee in the cafe while a new sender unit was fitted.The service manager said all was now OK, he'd had a test ride on the bike and the fuel gauge was now showing full (8 bars).
    Sure enough it was now showing 8 bars, and so I rode the bike back home and on arrival at Hull it was showing 6 bars, so I thought I'd top it up.
    Filled it up to the brim, turned on the ignition and set off on a short test ride (these bikes can take up to 5 minutes of riding to show a 'correct' reading. And guess what it showed..........7 bars. 7 bloody bars after all that faffing about.

    So that's it now as far as I'm concerned - 7 bars means full. At least I KNOW I've filled the tank even if the bike doesn't!
     
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  6. String

    String Member

    Jan 14, 2019
    71
    18
    Sunderland
    Just FYI, both my bikes (Tiger and a Bonnie) only show full bars if I sit astride the bike while refuelling and by that I mean off of the side stand.
    If the bike is on its stand, it doesn’t matter how much I brim the tank, it won’t show as full.
    Just a thought.
     
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  7. Riggers

    Riggers Well-Known Member

    Jul 26, 2020
    136
    83
    Hull

    Thanks for that Sting. The bike has a centre stand fitted and I've tried brimming it on both centre and side stands without success. But I must admit I've not tried filling it while sitting astride the bike.

    I'll try out your tip next fill up. :)
     
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  8. joe mc donald

    Subscriber

    Dec 26, 2014
    14,300
    1,000
    slough / burnham
    Riggers
    My 2018 does the same all the time. Sometime while riding it just shows full again. I just go with the flow. That's another reason to love my 865 it doesn't have silly gauges. Just a warning light. but it stays full all the time so i don't know if that works or not.
    Joe.
     
  9. Riggers

    Riggers Well-Known Member

    Jul 26, 2020
    136
    83
    Hull
    Thanks for that Joe. It's good to know I'm not alone. Like you I've now decided to 'go with the flow'. On the plus side in my case once the fuel level has dropped to a true 7 bars the gauge behaves itself and gives an accurate reading. Logic says the replacement of the sender unit should have solved the problem of the eighth bar not working but its obviously got a mind of its own!
     
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