I have read some of the past posts on fuel gauges being stuck on full or empty and think I will use the odometer to track fuel consumption. My 05 standard is stuck on full. So my question is how many miles of highway driving should I get out of a tank of gas on a softail standard? Of course to add insult to injury I ran out of gas with my wife on the bike on only her second ride. She is not a fan of riding and wasn't to thrilled being left on the side of the road while I hitched a ride to get gas. I felt like an idiot. Thanks for the help.

 

As far as how to fix it... You won't believe it....

Open up the tank (as per manual)... remove the sending unit....

clip off the small extension of metal off of the float rod... make it flush with the float...

reinstall with new fuel line clamp at regulator and tank panel screws....

 

I get gas at about 150 - 160 miles for my Sloptail Springer Classic. I've taken it all the way to 180 before but I don't like that. Running out of gas without a reserve sucks big time. I never had a gauge before and never used mine because I'm just used to 0'ing out the tripometer. Works for me.

 

Our Softail gets about 52 MPG when riding two up. We've taken 245 mile trips on one tank of gas many times.

I don't really look at my gauge much. I set the trip-ometer and monitor my miles.

 

found that my 04 soft tail standrd with 9000 gets 40.2 when i can keep the pipes quiet

 

My 05 EFI Heritage Classic gets about 40-43 mpg under normal conditions. The book says to expect 48 hwy, 43 city. I haven't done many 'highway only' miles. Most all of my rides are combination miles.

My low fuel light usually comes on around 150 miles. I fill up with about 3.5 to 3.8 gallons at that time.

According to the book (2005 models) a Softail Standard carb model should get 50 hwy/42 city and the EFI model 50 hwy, 44 city.

 

Don't feel so bad..........I also ran out (of gas, that is), but without the wife!. One good thing about it, is that it won't happen again. I figure my 97 Heritage gets 40mpg and with a 4.2 gal tank, I try to fill up anytimne after I hit 150 on the odometer.

 

I had the same issue with my fuel gauge, was filling up @ about 150 miles. During my 5000 miles service had the tacks take care of it in only about 15 minutes, and yes it is because the float was hanging up up on the tunnel and they just bent it over. have not had any problems with it in over 12 months. All done under warranty. Still filling up @ 150 miles which is exactly when the low fuel light comes on.