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Gas gauge needle on wrong side

Started by FJdude, July 12, 2011, 05:12:23 PM

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FJdude

July 12, 2011, 05:12:23 PM
Simply put, the needle is flipped all the way over to the other side of the peg. Is there anyway I can get it back to normal without taking apart the cluster (can't imagine how much of a pain it would be).

Going on a 600 mile trip and really need that thing to work.

P.S. How far do you guys go on a tank of gas (touring)?

NJona86FJ

#1
July 12, 2011, 05:27:49 PM
yes you can just push it back round, but it will just pop round again to the wrong spot, common fault, there is some talk of getting some fluid to inject back into the fuel gauge unit and that fixes it, not hard to get out ( the fuel gauge) mirrors off, plastics off, clear plastic off the instrument cluster, flip the needle back, re assemble....(others may know a quicker way.... im sure they will chime in). I pushed the borders of friendship and managed to get 345 kilometres out of a full tank, but usually im looking for a servo around 290 to 300. bearing in mind my bike has 20 % compression loss on EACH cylinder, and it just ticked over to 150446 kilometres
cheers
neil
Some people's idea of free speech is that they are free to say what they like,but if anyone says anything back that is an outrage.
W. Churchill

FJmonkey

#2
July 12, 2011, 07:49:17 PM
You just need to flip the bike over till the needle is on the correct side. Might have to do this from time to time. Find a really good launch ramp that will provide some long air time, you will need it when you get airborne. Rev the engine hard to get the bike to spin backwards and time the bike's rotation to land rubber side down. Piece of cake. Don't forget to wear your Moon boots...
The glass is not half full, it was engineered with a 2X safety factor.

'86 Ambulance - Bent frame, cracked case, due for an overhaul
'89 Stormy Blue - Suits my Dark Side

Arnie

#3
July 12, 2011, 08:49:36 PM
You can use a strong magnet to move the needle back to the correct side.
If you drill a tiny hole in the face of the guage, you can then put a screw or pin in to keep it from going over "top" again.

The fluid that might have leaked out, is dimethicone IIRC a very thick oil.  It is used to damp the needle vibrations.  Check the files section or search for it

Cheers,
Arnie

Pat Conlon

#4
July 12, 2011, 08:53:29 PM
Quote from: FJmonkey on July 12, 2011, 07:49:17 PM
You just need to flip the bike over till the needle is on the correct side........ Don't forget to wear your Mark boots...

There, fixed it....

1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

FJmonkey

#5
July 12, 2011, 09:43:25 PM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on July 12, 2011, 08:53:29 PM
Quote from: FJmonkey on July 12, 2011, 07:49:17 PM
You just need to flip the bike over till the needle is on the correct side........ Don't forget to wear your Mark boots...
There, fixed it....
What Pat said...Wear your gear, the right gear (the best you can afford), all the time!!!! i am very happy I did not have any traction issues in the plethora of rain and wet roads during the WCR this year. How are you doing now Pat?
The glass is not half full, it was engineered with a 2X safety factor.

'86 Ambulance - Bent frame, cracked case, due for an overhaul
'89 Stormy Blue - Suits my Dark Side

Pat Conlon

#6
July 12, 2011, 10:19:16 PM
Quote from: FJmonkey on July 12, 2011, 09:43:25 PM
How are you doing now Pat?

Almost fully healed. My dislocated left thumb will take the longest. Getting parts together to fix my mistress. Got a $2800 hospital bill to take care of ( even with Blue Cross) I learned one of the many paradoxes of life; I was unlucky, yet very fortunate.

ATGATT saved my bacon.

Note to others:  We kid Mark about his boots but it's all in fun. The fact is, if I had been wearing Mark's boots when I crashed, I would not have 2 broken metatarsals in my right foot......So you see, Mark knows what he is doing. 
1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

FJmonkey

#7
July 12, 2011, 10:44:53 PM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on July 12, 2011, 10:19:16 PM
Quote from: FJmonkey on July 12, 2011, 09:43:25 PM
How are you doing now Pat?
Almost fully healed. My dislocated left thumb will take the longest. Getting parts together to fix my mistress. Got a $2800 hospital bill to take care of ( even with Blue Cross) I learned one of the many paradoxes of life; I was unlucky, yet very fortunate.
ATGATT saved my bacon.
Note to others:  We kid Mark about his boots but it's all in fun. The fact is, if I had been wearing Mark's boots when I crashed, I would not have 2 broken metatarsals in my right foot......So you see, Mark knows what he is doing. 
I beg to differ Pat on the boots. Toung in cheek and all that, My feet stayed warmer than I thought but I felt quite naked from the chins down. I very much like knowing my gear is covering me and providing some protection. My K-Mart specials would have provided as much protection as the average tennis shoe. But with more style......My right foot took many years to feel normal after my tangle with a truck that cut me off on my first bike (Yamaha 400 twin). Nothing broken, just really bent...No male appendage jokes!!! The soft tissue injuries can take years to heal fully. All my best to you and your recovery Pat. Keep all the parts shiny and the rest us jealous...
The glass is not half full, it was engineered with a 2X safety factor.

'86 Ambulance - Bent frame, cracked case, due for an overhaul
'89 Stormy Blue - Suits my Dark Side

NJona86FJ

#8
July 12, 2011, 11:05:07 PM
what no thongs and shorts and singlets? i thought you lot were manly men.....lol :blum1:
Some people's idea of free speech is that they are free to say what they like,but if anyone says anything back that is an outrage.
W. Churchill

FJmonkey

#9
July 12, 2011, 11:11:18 PM
Quote from: NJona86FJ on July 12, 2011, 11:05:07 PM
what no thongs and shorts and singlets? i thought you lot were manly men.....lol :blum1:
We are...just show up to a rally...We are the FJMen in tights.......I am Little John, I get the name from my big boot size......it really is true about the relation in boot size! the bigger the boot, the bigger the Potato Cannon..... :wacko1:
The glass is not half full, it was engineered with a 2X safety factor.

'86 Ambulance - Bent frame, cracked case, due for an overhaul
'89 Stormy Blue - Suits my Dark Side

SkyFive

#10
July 12, 2011, 11:42:14 PM
Quote from: FJdude on July 12, 2011, 05:12:23 PM
Simply put, the needle is flipped all the way over to the other side of the peg. Is there anyway I can get it back to normal without taking apart the cluster (can't imagine how much of a pain it would be).

Going on a 600 mile trip and really need that thing to work.

P.S. How far do you guys go on a tank of gas (touring)?

I just fixed this problem on my gas guage. I removed the cluster, moved the needle, drilled a small hole and epoxied a 1/4" piece of (black painted) guitar string just above "F". Gas guage bounces around, inaccurate, unreliable and I still have to confirm fuel level by looking in the tank.

Pat Conlon

#11
July 13, 2011, 09:52:04 AM
Quote from: NJona86FJ on July 12, 2011, 11:05:07 PM
what no thongs and shorts and singlets? i thought you lot were manly men.....lol :blum1:
Not quite, but the ER staff at the San Jose trauma center were impressed with my man panties......the soft chamois crotch wow'ed 'em....  :good:
1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

rktmanfj

#12
July 13, 2011, 01:34:00 PM
Quote from: SkyFive on July 12, 2011, 11:42:14 PM


I just fixed this problem on my gas guage. I removed the cluster, moved the needle, drilled a small hole and epoxied a 1/4" piece of (black painted) guitar string just above "F". Gas guage bounces around, inaccurate, unreliable and I still have to confirm fuel level by looking in the tank.




That's because you fixed the symptom, not the problem.          :empathy2:

The gauge is low on damping fluid, more than likely.

Randy T
Indy

FJmonkey

#13
July 13, 2011, 09:01:15 PM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on July 13, 2011, 09:52:04 AM
Quote from: NJona86FJ on July 12, 2011, 11:05:07 PM
what no thongs and shorts and singlets? i thought you lot were manly men.....lol :blum1:
Not quite, but the ER staff at the San Jose trauma center were impressed with my man panties......the soft chamois crotch wow'ed 'em....  :good:
Now I am rolling on the floor, good one Pat. I bet your room had a more than normal shine to it from the nurses taking notes from you on what and how polish like a pro. lucky guy....
The glass is not half full, it was engineered with a 2X safety factor.

'86 Ambulance - Bent frame, cracked case, due for an overhaul
'89 Stormy Blue - Suits my Dark Side

NJona86FJ

#14
July 14, 2011, 03:40:33 AM
 :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: im trying hard not too picture either of you in tights or padded undies..... lol thanks for the chuckle
Some people's idea of free speech is that they are free to say what they like,but if anyone says anything back that is an outrage.
W. Churchill
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