Fuel Gauge Needle

[81Delorean]

I haven' owned my bike to long, actually only ridden it once and that was the test ride and on the way home after the trade and just got it registered last week. Anyway, the fuel gauge didn't work and when was out there earlier looking at something else with a flashlight I noticed the gauge needle was on the other side of the stop stem past the E. Did a quick search on here, looks like the dampening fluid may have run dry? If so, is there a write up on that? It didn't sound like an easy DIY or one that will last possibly. Anything else I should check or do? Any suggestions or tips are appreciated. Hope you're all having a great holiday.

[Pat Conlon]

A bad ground connection at the gauge or float sender can cause the gauge needle to wildly swing back and forth, often going all the way around and ending up on the wrong side of the starting post. You need to pull the gauge cluster out and gently lift the needle over the post to put it back at the start.
 To prevent this from happening in the future folks drill a small hole and glue in another post on the gauge face to stop the needle from swinging all the way around.

Check your connections, clean your grounds, your needle should calm down.

Cheers

Pat

[81Delorean]

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like a weekend project. I was going to pull the front fairing off anyway so I can try to get rid of the buzzing somewhere up front around the dash/windshield/fairing. Doesn't do it all the time, just certain RPM's. 

[red]

81Delorean,

That sound may be the speedometer.  While the instrument panel is out, use a high-quality petroleum lube in the cable entrance fitting.  Let the instrument sit inverted for a few hours, to allow the lube to soak in.  Otherwise, there are "rebuilders" who can do the repair for you.

Once you lift the fuel indicator needle over the stop pin, and put it back into the normal range, it should work again.  You can install a tiny tube over the stop pin, taller than the original stop pin, to prevent the needle from getting over the stop pin again.  Flaky ground connections are a common problem with the FJ instruments.  All of the ground wires to the instrument panel need to be clean, shiny, and secure.  Check the grounds at the fuel sender unit also.  HTH.

[Firehawk068]

Alternative to what Pat and Red posted, you *can use a fairly strong magnet to get the fuel-needle back around to the correct side of the stop-pin.
I was able to do this while on a long trip, far from home.
You have to get the magnet really close to the clear-plastic lens on top, but if it's a strong enough magnet it will work.
Wrap the magnet in a soft cloth to keep from scratching the plastic lens as you move it around.

[81Delorean]

81Delorean,

That sound may be the speedometer.  While the instrument panel is out, use a high-quality petroleum lube in the cable entrance fitting.  Let the instrument sit inverted for a few hours, to allow the lube to soak in.  Otherwise, there are "rebuilders" who can do the repair for you.

Once you lift the fuel indicator needle over the stop pin, and put it back into the normal range, it should work again.  You can install a tiny tube over the stop pin, taller than the original stop pin, to prevent the needle from getting over the stop pin again.  Flaky ground connections are a common problem with the FJ instruments.  All of the ground wires to the instrument panel need to be clean, shiny, and secure.  Check the grounds at the fuel sender unit also.  HTH.

So basically, turn the instrument cluster upside down, spray the lube into the cable entrance and let sit? Will I have to worry about any of the lube making its way on to the face of the cluster? or does the plastic cover come off fairly easy so it can be cleaned up? I will check the grounds while it's out. I've always been one to clean up wire terminals if I had to take something apart or disconnect something.

[81Delorean]

Thanks for the tips and advice so far. I will try the magnet so see if I can get the needle back around to the other side but it sounds like more needs to be done to prevent it from happening again.

[T Legg]

So basically, turn the instrument cluster upside down, spray the lube into the cable entrance and let sit? Will I have to worry about any of the lube getting on yhe face of the speedometer?

I use grease to lubricate my speedometer. I cut off the end of an old speedometer cable and used JB weld to attach a zirk fitting. I then screwed it on to the cable connection of the speedometer and pumped a little grease in.
 I made a post about it a few years ago. The title was "servicing the speedometer" . If you google servicing the speedometer fjowners.com you can find it to see the pictures

[81Delorean]

Alternative to what Pat and Red posted, you *can use a fairly strong magnet to get the fuel-needle back around to the correct side of the stop-pin.
I was able to do this while on a long trip, far from home.
You have to get the magnet really close to the clear-plastic lens on top, but if it's a strong enough magnet it will work.
Wrap the magnet in a soft cloth to keep from scratching the plastic lens as you move it around.

I had an old car speaker laying around in the garage for about 30 years so I took the magnet part off and got the fuel gauge needle back around to the correct side of the stop post. Turned the key on and the gauge goes up about 1/2 way which seems close judging by the miles I know I put on it after I filled it up. Will try to get out and ride and see how it holds up. I think when I take the fairing off I will still try to put another stop stem at the top of the gauge above the full mark somewhere. Thanks for the magnet tip.