86 Shadow Fuel Gauge??

[daryl5000]

I recently purchased this bike and the fuel gauge at the time I checked the bike out before buying it was reading about 1/2 tank level indicating it was working.

Previous owner said he filled the tank prior to my taking ownership and sure enough the fuel gauge needle showed pass the blue full level mark. Today I took it out and just thought I would see if I could add fuel to check for gauge operation even though it was reading full.

Well, the bike took 1.5 gallons of gas even though the fuel gauge read pass the full mark. Manual says it holds 4.0 gallons with 0.8 in the reserve Hmmmmm.

My question here is: Is this normal or anyone else having the same similar issues? Thanks for any help.

Daryl

[Pavogg]

I don't know if this is normal operation, but mant fuel gauges are non linear with a bias for acuuracy on the lower end of the scale. A better test would be to drain the tank and put 1 gal in and see how it reads.

[O'Larry]

The 85/86 1100 Shadows have the gas gauge that reads FULL far right, and RIGHT BEHIND that is the 1/2 full mark. It will ride a long ways before it gets to the 1/2 mark, and from there it goes down REAL QUICK! I thought I was running out of fuel when the gauge read EMPTY, and finally got to a station (Sweating blood with worry!) where it only took 2 gallons. I still had 2 gallons left. Those gauges are SCREWY! After that, I only went with the odometer and miles per gallon and never worried about it again.

[daryl5000]

Whew....Thanks guys for the replies.

From the additional posts I've read about the fuel gauge's on these bikes and what you just posted ............I've decided not to worry about it .......Thanks for putting my mind to rest

Now I know what to watch for with this fuel gauge when I'm riding .........Thanks again.

Ride Safe
Daryl