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Post by Danielle Belle on Mar 15, 2018 7:02:46 GMT -5
The gauge on my scooter stopped working yesterday. Anyone have an idea why or know a trick to getting it working again without having to take things apart?
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Post by 90GTVert on Mar 15, 2018 7:37:21 GMT -5
Tapping on the gauges (yeah, the old trick of trying to (gently) beat something so it works) or trying to slosh fuel around or get something in the tank to make sure the sender isn't stuck are about the only tricks I know of to attempt to fix this problem without taking anything apart. You'll likely have to remove panels just to check the connectors or any other inspection.
If you really don't want to bother with it, fuel gauges aren't necessary IMO. I don't have fuel gauges on 4 of my 5 scoots. If you know the tank capacity and you know your average fuel economy, you can use the odometer or GPS to figure out when you need to refill. Just make sure you leave some margin for error (if you have 1 gallon and get 80MPG, don't wait till 75 miles to plan to refill unless you like walking/pushing your scooter).
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Post by Danielle Belle on Mar 15, 2018 7:49:19 GMT -5
Thanks I'll give those tactics a shot
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Post by benji on Mar 15, 2018 8:46:02 GMT -5
I agree with 90gtvert, I don't run fuel gauges on my scoot'rs either. Besides, your denying yourself the true zen scoot'r experience if you don't get to push it home every now n then haha.
Is it stuck in place, or stuck on empty? If on empty, check the fuel tank for wires coming out somewhere. That'll be the 'sender', or the electric sensor in the tank (a floating ball on a lever) that sends a signal to the gauge. Check to make sure it's connected well. If you can find a manual for your scooter, it should detail a way to test the sender by grounding a wire and seeing if the gauge goes to full or not. It should also show you how to change the sender if it's bad, which should be pretty easy to do.
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Post by Danielle Belle on Mar 15, 2018 14:51:45 GMT -5
Its stuck on empty. If I rock the scooter from side to side a few times the gauge will move but just very little then go right back to empty
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Post by pinkscoot on Mar 15, 2018 15:24:28 GMT -5
Sounds like a stuck float.
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Post by lilpinny on Mar 15, 2018 20:30:50 GMT -5
I used to run no gauges and then I added back a fuel gauge. The only guage I use. Gone for a few too many long rides and ran out of juice. Heh.
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Post by greginisn on Mar 15, 2018 22:49:51 GMT -5
Some times fuel floats fill with fuel & sink I suppose the float could even separate from from the lever arm but not so likely. Do check your electrical connections coming out of the fuel tank and if OK start giving serious thought to pulling out the sending unit and see what you can about the sending unit.
Greg
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Post by lilpinny on Mar 16, 2018 3:05:47 GMT -5
What Greg said. Check your connections. I'd bet that's it. If not, you gotta figure out if it's the gauge that's broken or the sender. You could, I guess, depending on your tank design, reach in there with a bent coat hanger and make sure the sender float can move up and down. If you can't reach it you'll have to take it apart. Many senders have three leads which act as a voltage splitter by changing the resistance in the circuit when the float moves. That's what makes the needle on the gauge move. You can hook a multi-meter up and check that the resistance changes when you move the float. Again, you'd have to get at the float in the sender to move it. If you can't move it with a coat hanger you gotta take it apart, but it's real easy. You can leave the gas in it since it'll remove from the top of the tank.
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