Fuel Needle Stuck - FJ1200 '86

[Connor]

Hi guys. Just want to say thank you again for my warm welcome.

I'm getting used to the big FJ now 

Quick question, my fuel needle is stuck on the wrong side of the needle stopper.

Is there any reason for this, and most importantly, any way to fix it.

My last bike didn't have a fuel guage and its awesome having one now, only if it worked.

Anyway, any help is muchly appreciated.

Cheers
Connor 

[Dan Filetti]

I'm told that a strong magnet can be employed to move it back to the right side of the stopping pin.  Ultimately it comes from a lack of dampening in the guage housing.  The right vibrations will have it bonce over to the wrong side. 

Some folks have had luck injecting a more viscous dempening agent (diamethicone grease -or soemthing like this) into the housing.  Others have added a second stop pin just above full mark to prevent it from flipping in the fisrt place.  Both techniques require removal of the guage, or at least the guage cluster from the dash.

Dan

[Connor]

Cheers Dan, I'll give the magnet idea a try first 

[rktmanfj]

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=5598.0

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=5666.0

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=4868.0

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=4465.0

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=4880.0

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=4662.0

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=1893.0

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=2922.0

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=333.0

[Chainlube]

I'm told that a strong magnet can be employed to move it back to the right side of the stopping pin.  Ultimately it comes from a lack of dampening in the guage housing.  The right vibrations will have it bonce over to the wrong side. 

Some folks have had luck injecting a more viscous dempening agent (diamethicone grease -or soemthing like this) into the housing.  Others have added a second stop pin just above full mark to prevent it from flipping in the fisrt place.  Both techniques require removal of the guage, or at least the guage cluster from the dash.

Dan

My '84 FJ1100 did that last weekend.  Looked to be electrical as it was going absolutely nuts while not in motion and it has never been working properly as long as I have owned her.

[mike g]

the little brass balance weight had dropped off mine, took it all apart and glued it back again, ok now.
bit fiddly as there are more bolts holding the fairing on than a lot of bolts! (3cv)

[red]

Connor,

If the magnet trick does not work, you can disassemble the panel and physically lift the needle back over the stop pin to the gauge side of the stop pin.  Some riders have glued a tiny tube over the stop pin to make it taller, so the needle can't jump over the stop pin again.  A mis-behaving fuel indicator is almost always caused by bad grounding, either at the instrument panel or the fuel sender unit.  You can install new grounding wires right on top of the old ones, no problem.  Inspect the regular wiring, as well.

Take a look at the OEM parts fiches e.g.

Parts Fiches

(and equivalent sites from your local Yamaha parts houses).  On my USA 1985 FJ100, the front fairing (COWLING 1) is held in place by four bolts at the frame front, and a coupla screws at the rear. Disconnect a few plugs, and you can walk away with the entire front fairing.  That makes the instrument panel much easier to work with. YMMV.

[Troyskie]

Here's a vid of the magnet trick https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Vn3qGm-EHsc
Troyksie

[Sparky84]

Connor,

If the magnet trick does not work, you can disassemble the panel and physically lift the needle back over the stop pin to the gauge side of the stop pin.  Some riders have glued a tiny tube over the stop pin to make it taller, so the needle can't jump over the stop pin again.  A mis-behaving fuel indicator is almost always caused by bad grounding, either at the instrument panel or the fuel sender unit.  You can install new grounding wires right on top of the old ones, no problem.  Inspect the regular wiring, as well.

G'day Red,

Connor's post was from 2012, wonder if he ever did fix it 

I disassembled mine and pushed needle back over as you suggested.

[Chainlube]

Connor,

If the magnet trick does not work, you can disassemble the panel and physically lift the needle back over the stop pin to the gauge side of the stop pin.  Some riders have glued a tiny tube over the stop pin to make it taller, so the needle can't jump over the stop pin again.  A mis-behaving fuel indicator is almost always caused by bad grounding, either at the instrument panel or the fuel sender unit.  You can install new grounding wires right on top of the old ones, no problem.  Inspect the regular wiring, as well.

Take a look at the OEM parts fiches e.g.

Parts Fiches

(and equivalent sites from your local Yamaha parts houses).  On my USA 1985 FJ100, the front fairing (COWLING 1) is held in place by four bolts at the frame front, and a coupla screws at the rear. Disconnect a few plugs, and you can walk away with the entire front fairing.  That makes the instrument panel much easier to work with. YMMV.

So, I bought a stack of 50, 15mm magnets.  Tried to drag the long end of the needle but didn't get past 90 degrees.  I flipped the magnet stack to change polarity and was able to drag the short overhang of the needle, opposite the point end.  Thanks for the tip!  Still going to check all the wires at the gauge and sending unit.