Fuel Gauge Problem

[RA Bandit]

2000  Bandit 1200S

Started my ride today with a quarter tank, went about 20 miles, the last 3-4 on an unimproved "bumpy" road (may or may not be relevant).

When I got back on the bike, the fuel gauge showed 3/4 full, and varied between 3/4 and "F" for the rest of my ride into town.  After refueling, the gauge "pegged out" well past F, and by the time I got home 37 miles later, the needle barely had dropped to below F.

Anyone have any ideas or experience a similar problem?

[Red01]

Sounds like a problem with the indicating system in the tank - perhaps a bent arm for the float.

[RA Bandit]

Thanks Red.

Is this something that can be repaired by the average guy, or should it be a shop visit?

[Slider]

I may have good news. The guage on my bike became erratic too. It would read anywhere down to zero, regardless of the gas in the tank. A little while later it would read something reasonabley accurate. I had the bike in for other work and told the dealer to reconoitre. I was prepared to do without it, as changing the sensor would be $$ and could lead to gas leaks as it did for me with a boat gas tank.

He fixed it for very little. He said that the ground wire under the tank was being pinched and eventually was contacting metal intermitently.

Hope this helps.

[RA Bandit]

Thanks Mike.

[Red01]

If it's not tat simple, the sending unit is accessed from the bottom of the tank and shouldn't be a hassle to get to - with the tank off, of course.

You can compare the shape of your float assy to the picture in the parts fiche.

http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0285/fuel_cock/fuel_cock.cfm?man=su&groupid=4810&parent=4740

[RA Bandit]

Thank you Paul, appreciate you getting the part URL.