Filled the tank, THEN the RLOD came on, and stayed on: Why??

[TheGingerBeardMan]

I have never been one to run the bike dry - and today was no different.

I fill up the tank, to the metal line, approx. every 70 miles - just to be sure. In fact, I've never ran the Storm onto reserve since I got it.


However, today I went to fill up as per usual. Only had 40 miles on the trip since last fill, and the bike just took a fiver to top it up.

Put key in ignition, reset trip, and the fuel light (Red Light On Display) came on. With a full tank? EH? WTF? Never had that before. Weird.

This is the new replacement tank I'm using, and it's never given any hint of a problem since swapping over. The RLOD has never come on - ever. I don't go far enough down the tank for the light to come on, and I've often wondered if it even worked. Well, now I know it DOES light up - but it's butt about face.

Stopped at the side of the road, removed seat, checked fuel light plug - still intact. Waggled wire - RLOD still on.

Had a waggle with me fingers behind the clocks - still on.

Unplugged the plug - RLOD went off. Plugged it back in, RLOD came on (permanently). Decided to just pull the plug and continue my run.


Any suggestions?

The tank hasn't been touched since I swapped it over. All wiring is "as new" condition.

I stupidly checked the fuses. All ok.

Why would the RLOD come on all of a sudden, after a few thousand miles of filling up, and with another fresh full tank of fuel 4 seconds prior?

[Wicky]

Sounds like the fuel gauge floaty fing is stuck / sunk (no.12)

http://www.bike-parts-honda.com/pieces- ... STORM.html

[TheGingerBeardMan]

Hmmm. Thanks for that heads up bit. When you say stuck, I can understand a bit of crud or grit may cause it, but then you included a "/" and said SUNK?

How can it sink? What is the bowl made of? (I call it a bowl, as it's gotta be like a cistern float bowl set up). Is it a solid piece of plastic, or is it possible to get a hole it in, causing it to "fill" and sink. Or, do you suggest that something has come loose?


Does anyone have a fuel reserve sender REMOVED from a tank, so they can have a look to see what should move and what shouldn't? I've got a whole tank o' fuel, and nowhere to put it (container wise). I could just drive and drive to waste the fuel, then remove the tank and reserve sender. But I've just ridden loads of miles, and the body is too achy to get back on the bike for now. I could get a bit of wire and a torch and have a look see if I can grab the float arm and raise it to see if the light goes off?


So - that's one suggestion - thanks Wicky. Now, does everyone else concur, or do any of you chaps have a different thought?

[bigtwinthing]

Sounds like the fuel gauge floaty fing is stuck / sunk (no.12)

http://www.bike-parts-honda.com/pieces- ... STORM.html

OY lets have less technical jargon please Tosh! "floaty fing indeed"

[TheGingerBeardMan]

Yup BTT. I was thinking it, but you said it.

"Fuel gauge floaty fing". Proper apprentice mechanic speak!

Could have been worse.......He could have said "dat fing wot bobs about in the tank, to show if yer about to run out of go-go-juice, well, that could be f*cked Sir"

Followed by the huge intake of breath between the teeth, and at the same time saying "s'gonna cost ya....." and then rubs his thumb between his 2 fingers.

[Pete.L]

I think you will be down to three choices GBM.
Like Wicky said, the float has sunk, or the hinge to float arm thingy wire has jammed in the down position or the actual switch has busted

I would get a coat hanger and lift the arm up and down a few times to see if it comes back to life. With a torch and a bit of a wiggle you might be able to see if the float sinks or the arm is stuck

Pete.l

[TheGingerBeardMan]

Dang. I forgot I posted this.

So, a follow up and cause of the red reserve light being on is explained.

I had a look in the tank, and had a waggle and pull up of the float arm. Could see it well with an LED Cree torch. Didn't drain the fuel. Everything moving ok.

Then looked at the metal bar that goes across the fuel tank inlet (the fuel level bar), and noticed it had a wee bend in it - bending upwards. Wasn't like that before.

anyway - had a look at the fuel sender plate just offside to the tank inlet. Pushed the plate with my fingers and lo-n-behold, the light went out on the dash. Stuck me fingers in again, flicked the plate and the light came back on again.

With the slight bend in the fuel level bar, and now the plate on the sender, it clicked what I had done, and what has caused it.

It's down to when I fill up. I put the whole petrol pump nozzle in the tank - enough to let go of it and balance it there whilst I p1ss about doing other stuff, and waiting for the girl to activate the pump.

With always doing this, the weight of the pump nozzle has bent the bar up a bit, and I must have pushed the nozzle in too far, to hit the fuel sender plate across.

Who's a dozy sod then. Won't be doing that again, I can assure you. I've had 2 fill ups since it happened, and the RLOD hasn't lit up.

All systems go. Back to normal, but just too damn wet to ride. Don't mind riding in any weather usually, but the bike has just been cleaned, Autosol and waxed (again). And I'm getting to the stage I don't want to re-clean it afterwards. A sure sign of getting soft.

Many thanks to all suggestions. I feared the worst, and that I had a duff sender unit, and then nearly fell over when I saw the price of a replacement. Thank gawd it was just my fault and not the actual unit.

[Pete.L]

It's down to when I fill up. I put the whole petrol pump nozzle in the tank - enough to let go of it and balance it there whilst I p1ss about doing other stuff, and waiting for the girl to activate the pump.

With always doing this, the weight of the pump nozzle has bent the bar up a bit, and I must have pushed the nozzle in too far, to hit the fuel sender plate across.

Result!
Nice one GBM. I love fixes which don't cost nought. And hopefully your experience will help someone else if they get a simular problem

Pete.l

[lloydie]

Don't think I've ever put the nozzle all the way in the tank !
An inch at the most but that only because I like to see if their pumping more air than fuel

[TheGingerBeardMan]

Well, erm, ok. The nozzle isn't FULLY inside the tank. I put it in (oo-er) enough and then turn it so it's resting under the fill level bar. But having spotted that, it's staring me straight in the face how I managed to push the sender plate.

I suppose it's a quick check for folk if they want to know if their RLOD works...Just put 2 fingers into the tank and push the metal plate on the sender.

As for pumping air - I've been narking the woman for the past 8 months to get the belts changed on the pumps. It comes out in spurts and sometimes lots of froth (too much detergent???).

S'ok for car users, as they don't get splash-back and don't notice - all they get is kick back from the pump handle and it shuts off.

But putting their petrol pumps into the bike tank is no fun. It trickles out the fuel - really slowly, so you squeeze the handle a bit harder, and then all of a sudden the belt grabs, and fuel shoots out under too much pressure. Usually back-splashing out onto the tank.

It's a bl00dy fire hazard I tell her. I also rant that I've just waxed the bike, and now it's all come off.

They won't replace the belts, as they won't be able to shut the petrol station long enough to do 'em all.