Aftermarket Fuel Guage

Is there an aftermarket fuel guage that can be added to these bikes? Just curious.

 

I would like to know this also because every original I try to find is either bent or broken lol. Speedo and fuel haha

 

My bike didn't originally have one so I figured I'd see if they make one.

 

I know Hastings make a universal float + gauge set cost just under $100. I can't say for sure whether it would fit in the tank, but I looked at one at work one day that we ordered for a street rod and it looked like it would fit

 

I'm wondering the same thing myself.
I don't know if our sending unit will be able to trigger an after market gauge or not. Mine sending unit is shot and untill I fix it or replace it I won't know what the OHM reading is, and that's what determines if it will move an after market gauge needle or not.
I just got a fuel gauge off Ebay off of a Suzuki motorcycle ($1) that works and looks brand new, so that's my plan for a gauge mod.
There doesn't seem to be any info on the OHM rating on our sending units, so it's hard to know what gauges will work, if any.
After doing some research on automotive fuel gauges, I found there is alot of difference between manufacturers. They sending units all work different betweenthe majot brands (Ford, Chevy, and Mopar)
Some send 0 to 250 ohm to trigger the gauge and other use 250 to 0 ohms (backwards) to trigger the gauge. And there are different variations also available. So knowing that, this could be opening a can of worms in finding a gauge that works with our sending units.
Another option I've thought of, is too get another sending unit to experiment with - then using the guts from an automotive unit and making it fit onto the our mounting plate, so it fits (and seals properly) onto our tanks. Then I could use an automotive gauge. I'm sure there will be some arm adjustment and maybe cutting it shorter on the automotive sending unit to get it to fit and work right. It may be tedious and time consuming to make it work and I don't want to screw up the only one I have right now.

 

Painter, could you not try running 12 volts, through a known value resistor to the gauge you just bought and see where the needle goes? I could be way off on this, but it's just a thought

 

Do you know if the fuel level OHM signal can be used to trigger an LED light? I removed my seca "computer" and would like to use the fuel sensor lead wire for a low fuel warning light.
The Haynes manual tells me the ohms used for the different LCD "bar" levels. I was curious if the signal sent to the computer to display the low fuel LCD warning would be enough to power an LED.
Thanks

 

I'm in the process of fitting a car fuel sensor unit into my tank as I have a digital gauge with a fuel level feature. This has really been a challenge for me. The gauge needs 10 ohms for full and 100 ohms for empty, and most of the sensors I've found were different. I tried a Harley sensor but it was too far off for modification. I have actually fitted a Buick sensor that works great outside the tank (had to build a resistor divider network which was no big deal to get the resistance proper), and have managed to get it mounted to the fuel sensor base on the original Maxim-X setup after lots of grinding and measuring. I'll have it installed this weekend and if it works, I'll post a DIY with pictures, but trust me, this mod is not for the faint-hearted! Bottom line is that anything is possible, if you have the patience and time.

 

John,
I agree, it takes patience and anything is possible if you want it bad enough (hey, they put men on the moon!!)
I figured that it's possible to fabricate an existing sending unit to the stock Yamaha plate that bolts to the tank, like your doing. Just getting it to seal is my only concern I guess.
After doing some research on sending units and gauges, I found that Ford, Chevy and Dodge are all different. So using an automotive gauge would work if I can fabricate the sending unit onto my tank without it leaking.
I have a nice, like new Suzuki gauge that I'd like to use on mine, but here we go with finding the sending unit that will trigger it properly.
I think I will find a stock sending unit off of another bike (yamaha) to experiment with, so I can still ride my bike while I'm working on it.

 

After spending all day, the sender unit is now in the tank, working, and indicating the the proper level on the gauge!! What a horrible job to do. It took me and another mechanically inclined buddy the full day to get it to fit into the tank and then hooked up. Then we spent the last hour tweaking the positioning of the float so it wasn't binding. As predicted, unless you have a lot of time and patience, forget it. I used the base of the oem sender from the Maxim and bolted the Buick sender unit to it, so it doesn't leak at all. Going to be great to check the level while driving rather than remembering the mileage. Will post pictures if anyone wants them.

 

It would be nice to see the photos of your mod. I knew it could be done with alot of patience.
I assumed the throw of the sending unit arm would be another hurdle to jump, but I see you have mastered that also. Good job! >PD<
I'm going at it from another direstion first and seeing if I can find a gauge that works with out Yamaha sending units first. Or maybe going with another stock sending unit off of another Yamaha bike, which I assume is the same OHM rate as ours? Who knows, they like to change things mid-steam on some of these bikes for what ever reason, so I could run into a brick wall there too.
It would be nice just to have a sending unit to trigger and LED light when the tank gets down to 1/4 full atleast, like someone else mentioned. I could live with that. >PD<

 

heres one from the project bike
looks like the piece that the resistance wire is wrapped around has warped over time, it had no contact from about 1/2 to full
i loosened the set screw and moved it further in to get contact and sprayed tuner cleaner on it
now it measures 20 ohms to 300 ohms, nice and smooth, but i forget which way
the spring must be the ground contact

 

Thanks Polock!
I may have to take mine off and tear into it today (honey-do list is getting longer than I anticipated!)
My tank had rust in it when I bought it, so I'm sure my sending unit is dirty as hell and needs cleaning real bad. It just nice to know the OHM rating too (Thanks!) so I can go ahead and get a gauge that works with those ratings now. >PD<