Possible Gas Tank Problem

[heritageman]

I purchased a 2002 Heritage Softail w/ 17,000 miles in March 2008. It has fuel injection and appears to be stock except for SE II's Slip Ons. I absolutely love the bike except for a nagging problem. It gets about 45 miles per gallon, but I can only get about 130 miles when the low fuel light comes on and the bike starts acting like it's out of gas. When I shine a flashlight in the tank, I can still see gas in the bottom. I calculate I should be getting at least 200 miles before fillup. Has anyone else had this problem? I'm hoping the extended warranty I purchased with the bike will cover the problem.

[Thundermug]

You are not able to fill the tank completely full. If you want to check what I am telling you, just pull your tank off, and drain it completely. Now take a gas can or get your bike to a gas station somehow (trailer) and fill it with gas. How much went in? Why weren't you able to get the full amount into that tank?

You were prevented from completely filling it because of the neck where your gas cap screws into the tank. That is a lotta air space up there and it is always used in calculating the capacity of the tank.

[pjciii]

The low fuel light is set to come on with 1.5 gallons left in the tank. that was what my service mgr and the mech i use, i ride using the trip meter taking into account wind and speed, these 2 will always lower my range. that is on my 05 night train. my 06 rk does not come on till .5 left
patrick

[vegaspete61]

Originally Posted by heritageman

I purchased a 2002 Heritage Softail w/ 17,000 miles in March 2008. It has fuel injection and appears to be stock except for SE II's Slip Ons. I absolutely love the bike except for a nagging problem. It gets about 45 miles per gallon, but I can only get about 130 miles when the low fuel light comes on and the bike starts acting like it's out of gas. When I shine a flashlight in the tank, I can still see gas in the bottom. I calculate I should be getting at least 200 miles before fillup. Has anyone else had this problem? I'm hoping the extended warranty I purchased with the bike will cover the problem.

What you are describing is a possible symptom of the tank lining pealing off and partialy obstructing the fuel pickup. The 01 & 02 bikes were notorious for this. It is even worse on the carb bikes as it craps up the petcock screen. On a stock engine you should be able to go 200 miles before the low fuel light comes on.

[heritageman]

Hi everyone, thanks for your reply's. Ended up taking it to the dealer, the extended warranty covered it. The first time they replaced the fuel sending unit, that didn't fix it. Took it back again with the gauge reading very empty, the light had been shining brightly for the last 20 miles, about 135 miles on the odometer since last fuel fill, and showed them that the tank still had alot of gas still in it. They had it for a week and finally got it fixed. I don't fully understand it but they said they had to replace some clamps inside the tank, anyway now the light comes on with about a gallon left in the tank, just the way the gentleman said 2 posts ago. Eveything is fine now.