fuel tank sender and guage mod

peanut

XS650 enthusiast & inveterate tinkerer
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has anyone fitted any kind of fuel indicator device to their xs650 ?

I wondered what the various options were and did a search and was surprised to find nothing specific to the XS650 .
I believe the xs1100 has a fuel indicator of some sort. ?

I found a simple crude float sender on ebay which would probably work quite well but you'd need to make a hole in your tank at the top surface so it would probably only be any use for a special tank with the offset filla
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121034855011?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ski-Doo-New-OEM-Fuel-Gas-Cap-w-Guage-Formula-Touring-Summit-Skandic-/200945958887?pt=Snowmobile_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ec94fffe7
 
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the trip odo and reserve seem to function well for me.... I figure on about 100 miles on a special tank before reserve.
 
I tend to rely on the fuel gauge in my cars so I suppose i'd like a similar feature on the bike if possible even if it is only a led low-fuel light on the instrument console.

Petrol stations are few and far between out here in the English countryside as more than half have closed down in the past 2x decades due to recessions and profit margins being cut to the bone by the petroleum suppliers.

The reserve will probably do fine I expect. Approx how many miles do you get on reserve with a special tank?
 
the XS1100 uses a float type sender, the XS11 Specials use a thermal (electrical) sensor both would have the problem of figuring out proper height setting for correct operation if moved into a different fuel tank, then there is the old tried and true two 90 degree fittings and a length of clear tubing, I use the trip meter myself and rarely hit reserve, like the airplane guys say "the only time you have to much fuel is when you're on fire"
 
The H model supplement says a 3 USG tank with a .6 USG reserve.

That's 11.5, 2.3 in liters. Not wise to test your reserve capacity very far.
 
t like the airplane guys say "the only time you have to much fuel is when you're on fire"

:D:laugh::laugh: the sp peanut tank certainly is a small tank lol.

I think I might look at the possibility of fitting a low level sensor with led warning. Should be easy enough .:thumbsup:
 
The H model supplement says a 3 USG tank with a .6 USG reserve.

That's 11.5, 2.3 in liters. Not wise to test your reserve capacity very far.

you mean I may have to carry a reserve reserve tank with me !:laugh::bike:
 
Using the trip meter is fine, but don't under any circumstances use the reserve due to the accumulation of crud in the bottom of the tank. I use my known gas mileage and start looking for a gas station 20 miles before reserve. I think that many of the carb issues posted here are due to running on reserve. You can also cut the main feed inlet tube shorter to get more miles before reserve and still have the protection of leaving the crud in the bottom of the tank.
 
thanks pete that sounds like good advice.:thumbsup:

I have two new fuel filters installed in the fuel lines . At this rate I can see myself carrying a small emergency can strapped to my back lol :laugh:
 
The reserve position still has screen protection on the later petcocks no worries if you keep your tank clean. I use my reserve.........
 
ah I did wonder if there was a filter fitted to the petcocks or not. I have two new petcocks fitted to the tank by the PO but I have no idea what type they are to be honest. I'm reluctant to remove them in case I open a whole can of worms (tin worms):laugh:
 
Factory petcocks were fitted with filters, No idea what the PO did though. Expect the unexpected is a good motto with PO's
 
A good inline fuel filter is better. Easier to see. You can just replace as it gets full.
Leo
 
Its one of those area's where its better to just keep it simple. The trip odometer gets set to zero at every fill up.

Even in western Canada where the land is big and the population is small, I've never come close to switching onto reserve.

On some long trips with my XS650 Special, the greatest distance I reached, before finding a gas station, was 158 kms. I suspect reserve would be needed around 180 kms with my 11 litre Special tank, but I've never had need to find out.

Edit:
If someone really wants more of a safety cushion for gas, just replace the Special 11 litre tank with a Standard 15 litre tank. I considered it once, but found that my 11 litre tank is more than enough.
 
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Its one of those area's where its better to just keep it simple. The trip odometer gets set to zero at every fill up.

Edit:
If someone really wants more of a safety cushion for gas, just replace the Special 11 litre tank with a Standard 15 litre tank. I considered it once, but found that my 11 litre tank is more than enough.

thats not a bad option for someone like myself who has a terrible memory.

I bid on a nice original 1976 tank yesterday on ebay with the idea changing tanks . I wished that I had bought it now as it went for $20 !:doh:

As Leo says the inline filters should be adequate and they are nice and easy to replace. You're always going to get the occasional fill up from the bottom of a service station tank with some added water and crud I guess
 
thats not a bad option for someone like myself who has a terrible memory.

I bid on a nice original 1976 tank yesterday on ebay with the idea changing tanks . I wished that I had bought it now as it went for $20 !:doh:

As Leo says the inline filters should be adequate and they are nice and easy to replace. You're always going to get the occasional fill up from the bottom of a service station tank with some added water and crud I guess

I've heard stories of bad gas, but over 22 seasons of biking, I've never had any gas problems at all. I suspect some lads use an old tank with rust and crap in the tank, and then blame the gas stations for cruddy gas.

If you start with a clean tank, and use an in line filter, its unlikely to see bad gas problems.
 
The fuel guage on my portable generator is built into the gas cap. A float rides up/down on a screw-twisted vertical shaft, which is the indicator needle shaft, about 3/4 turn total. I supose something like this could work for one of those offset-cap tanks, but not on a hinged cap, unless you get creative with a universal joint or something...
 
that is the type that I saw on US ebay ! :thumbsup:

Very crude but really ingenious.

You could probably modify a tank to take one easy enough. If I get a spare tank I might try that .:wink2:
 
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