Fuel gauge

[Cooper]

Thanks mate for the help, Im now going to have a look at the larger tank that came with bike you might be right Ev about swapping over, the penny has just dropped  just didn't think straight getting the tank painted in a couple of weeks so I'll post a pic or two if I can remember how to.

[Eveready1100]

Just an FYI to those that are interested. Found this thread on the Dotcom site regarding the fuel guage components and a bit of extra info about tachos - CLICK

[steptoe]

sorry for the delay,, sounds like they,ve sorted it for you coop, in your early posts mate,, no it wasn,t me that had the issue

[Eveready1100]

Coops, maybe sometime in the bikes past, it was fitted up with a bigger tank, and they swapped the sensor over to that one, then later on swapped the tank back over and neglected to change the sender units back, maybe.
Anyways, it seems we have caught you in time so alls good, eh?
There should be the odd RH owner out there who's damaged a tank and simply bought another one to replace it and sat the old one on the shelf for spares. I'd recommend putting a wanted ad up on this forum just in case someone here has got one laying around.
if not,
Here's one listed in the States - CLICK
It's a bit exxy, but hold tight, mate. I'll do some sniffing around the dotcom site for you and get back if I find something, ok?

[Cooper]

Thanks guys Ive been away just read posts. Tank was a standard fitment now its starting to make sense. It came with the bike, Im now at the finishing stages of getting it back on the road. Now Im not sure how the sender got into tank considering the original has a switch sensor. I can understand how it could react if something is amiss. I can only think someone replaced sender if original was defective not realising the consequences. Ev the tank is the right tank for the bike with the wrong inners, now can switch sensor be obtainable? I do like this forum I could have been stuffing around for much longer,,,,,,,, just thinking could the tank be off another model there was as I can recall just two types of tank 15litre and 24litre so that wouldn't be possible I would think.   

[excess.11]

Coops.....if you have a low level light....the tank sensor should be an internal on/offswitch sensor......not a resistive wiper /float type. Whats the history of the tank your fitting? Where did the float sensor come from .
The float style operates a progressive coil type arm that varies from empty to full as seen on the square xs1100 guages. If you have the round guage with just a low level light ........the float type switch is not designed by wiring and components in cct and applied load .....to switch a globe. You have to be careful about what sensor is in the tank with it s appropriate applied voltage.....just so you don t blow yourself to" kingdom come "....or take the shortcut to "Rabbit Flat Well".
I say this because...Scarfey tells us the place is closed....and there will be no one there to help you with bandages etc....only a bunch of "mad as rabbits" dirt bikers hooning their way through to oblivion.....fulfilling their "bucket" lists 

[Eveready1100]

Ok Coops 
You've got me worried now
Don't touch anything.
stand back from the bike and take photos and post them
we'll advise you from that point

[Cooper]

Its a standard tear drop tank [small capacity] definitely has a float mechanism will take off and check swing arm as suggested is it just a procedure of making sure there's even pressure against the windings coops.

[Jonesy :-)]

re-setting the trip meter each fill up is also another way of keeping tabs on your fuel level, I've done it habitually for as long as I've been riding, low tech and reliable. Evs idea is a good one too

[excess.11]

Something to be careful about re incorrect matching  is......having the correct wiring and voltages to the appropriate internal tank sensor ....its not the place you d want an errant spark to occur.

[Eveready1100]

Coops, I'm very surprised that you're getting a reaction from your light at all.
I'm guessing by your mention of a float that you've fitted a big tank to your RH, and have hooked up the gauge wire as in the past. In the RH's and Specials, the sender unit is just a switch that turns on the low fuel light when the level drops down.
With the standard tanks, the float sender unit sends its signal to the fuel gauge in the dashboard via a regulator behing the guage that calibrates the signal that makes everything work. (that's another reason why fitting aftermarket gauge setups are frustrating)
Your best bet would be to remove the sender unit from your Rh and fit it into the big tank. The mounting hole is the same size, but it's on the other side of the frame tunnel so the wiring may have to be juggled a bit.
Hopefully then, the warning light may come on when the tank is reasonably empty and actually be of some use.
Only a bit of experimenting with fuel levels can answer that question.

[excess.11]

Remove the sender from the tank. You will see a wiper arm that travels over a resistive winding.(Rheostat/Potentiometer) The wiper may not be contacting the winding through it s travel/range with an even tension. You can also do a resistance test to see the progressive values.
From memory there are a couple of tabs to unfold to get to the resistance mechanism.
Im looking at a "Standard "Model in the book...hoping it s the same setup as an RH.

[Cooper]

Can someone point me in the right direction, just fitted tank to bike filled with fuel the, red light[81 RH] still stays on, the tank is about half full but the light has dimmed and if you pull the float up it stays on push the float down and it goes bright red as you would expect. is the sender repairable? Steptoe didn't you have this prob or it may have been some  one else, Cooops