Gas Gauge question

boomerang2120 · 03-15-2011, 11:55 AM

The gas gauge on my '00 normally carbed 1500 doesn’t seem very accurate. The gauge start hitting ‘E’ about 100 miles into any ride. This past weekend I stopped to fill it up at 112 miles and it took 3.1 gallons filling it up to the bottom of the filler neck - meaning there was a full gallon still in the tank. This bike does have the reserve switch but I've never had to use it.... yet, and if I remember correctly the tank empty will take 4.2 gallons.

Would the reserve eat up that whole extra gallon? Is there an ‘easy’ way to adjust the float or gauge to get just a little more accurate reading?

jd01 · 03-15-2011, 01:28 PM

My 01' carbed 1500 also has the 4.2 gal. tank. Lots of times when it gets so low and starts to sputter, I switch the toggle under the tank over to reserve and start looking for a gas station. It will also usually take about 3 gallons or a little more depending on how far I went on reserve to fill it back up. I think the manual says the reserve is about .9 gallon on these 4.2 tanks, but I'm not sure if there is a way to make an adjustment in order to get a better reading. Mine will also start getting close to the 'E' around 100 miles, but I can usually get between 120 and 130 miles before it starts to sputter and I turn it on reserve.

**ringadingh** · 03-15-2011, 01:51 PM

That sounds about right to me, your getting about 38 mpg if you hit empty after 112 miles.
and you have close to a gallon reserve. I think your gauge is reading as it should.

Blueraven · 03-15-2011, 02:16 PM

Is there a RESERVE switch for the '03 Nomad? I know that when the tank gets low, the light goes on.

**ringadingh** · 03-15-2011, 02:23 PM

Only the carbed bikes have a reserve, if the bike is FI it has a light, which comes on at about 1 gallon remaining.

ndbigfish · 03-15-2011, 04:58 PM

Boomerang,
If you want the float to work better then lubricate the fuel in the system. My 99' had erratic float problems. Frequent does of MMO keep it operating accurately. Also make sure the reserve selector switch is not set on reserve cause you will run the tank empty without the benefit of the reserve. At freeway speeds the carbed bike coughs and runs out of fuel at 120 miles or so.

03-15-2011, 11:55 AM	#1
boomerang2120 Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Winston Salem, NC Posts: 115	Gas Gauge question The gas gauge on my '00 normally carbed 1500 doesn’t seem very accurate. The gauge start hitting ‘E’ about 100 miles into any ride. This past weekend I stopped to fill it up at 112 miles and it took 3.1 gallons filling it up to the bottom of the filler neck - meaning there was a full gallon still in the tank. This bike does have the reserve switch but I've never had to use it.... yet, and if I remember correctly the tank empty will take 4.2 gallons. Would the reserve eat up that whole extra gallon? Is there an ‘easy’ way to adjust the float or gauge to get just a little more accurate reading? __________________ '00 - 1500 'Carbed' Nomad VBA #01600 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-15-2011, 01:28 PM	#2
jd01 Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canton,Georgia Posts: 851	Gas Gauge question My 01' carbed 1500 also has the 4.2 gal. tank. Lots of times when it gets so low and starts to sputter, I switch the toggle under the tank over to reserve and start looking for a gas station. It will also usually take about 3 gallons or a little more depending on how far I went on reserve to fill it back up. I think the manual says the reserve is about .9 gallon on these 4.2 tanks, but I'm not sure if there is a way to make an adjustment in order to get a better reading. Mine will also start getting close to the 'E' around 100 miles, but I can usually get between 120 and 130 miles before it starts to sputter and I turn it on reserve. __________________ Don Denman "JD" 2001 Luminous Vintage Red carbed 1500 Nomad VBA #376 VROC #6195
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03-15-2011, 01:51 PM	#3
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Gas Gauge question That sounds about right to me, your getting about 38 mpg if you hit empty after 112 miles. and you have close to a gallon reserve. I think your gauge is reading as it should. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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03-15-2011, 02:16 PM	#4
Blueraven Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Southern Ontario Posts: 805	Gas Gauge question Is there a RESERVE switch for the '03 Nomad? I know that when the tank gets low, the light goes on. __________________ Rhys Westmoreland VBA# 01622 (Kawanow) 1969 Suzuki 250 1973 Honda CB750 K3 (Sold Dec 11, 2011) 2003 1500 Nomad FI "REBA" PC III Commander (Died April 2011) PC III Commander (Installed new one April 2016) Vance and Hines, Mustang Seat BadBoy Air Horn Front LED Fog Lights 2011 Maggie Valley,NC 2014 NE US/Eastern Canada Rally,Lincoln NH
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03-15-2011, 02:23 PM	#5
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Gas Gauge question Only the carbed bikes have a reserve, if the bike is FI it has a light, which comes on at about 1 gallon remaining. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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03-15-2011, 04:58 PM	#6
ndbigfish Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Braunfels, Texas Posts: 1,162	Gas Gauge question Boomerang, If you want the float to work better then lubricate the fuel in the system. My 99' had erratic float problems. Frequent does of MMO keep it operating accurately. Also make sure the reserve selector switch is not set on reserve cause you will run the tank empty without the benefit of the reserve. At freeway speeds the carbed bike coughs and runs out of fuel at 120 miles or so. __________________ Brik VBA #1047 07 Electra Glide Ultra (43,300 & counting) 03 Nomad - 37,972 (traded 5/6/13) 99 Nomad - Only a memory since 4/27/13
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