Fuel Guage

[Lord Popgun]

There is a procedure in the service manual. The test is easy, but normally you do it with the pump removed. Might be able to do it if you can move the float up and down.

[the Ferret]

well we have some pretty smart fellas on this board, but the OP shouldn't have to do his own diagnostics. This is clearly a warranty issue.

if you fill the tank and it only shows half full ( I believe that's what the OP is saying), Honda Canada Service Rep should be able to diagnose and authorize warranty replacement of defective part. If I were the owner of a brand new unit, I would not want to be pulling my pump assy, float assy, or sending unit for testing. That's crazy. (BTW I had a Yamaha Majesty Scooter that did the same thing and Yamaha replaced the fuel pump assy under warranty which fixed the problem)

That said our electrical gurus can probably figure it out.

In the meantime, I would use one of the trip meter for monitoring fuel/mileage by re-setting every time I fill up and calculating gas usage on my smart phone, multiplyiing mileage x tank capacity to figure when I need to stop for gas.

[peterbaron]

Ferret, thanks for bringing it up...I did not even notice he is from Canada....JohnnyLH, where do you live in Canada?
For sure warrantable repair!!

[SportsterDoc]

well we have some pretty smart fellas on this board, but the OP shouldn't have to do his own diagnostics. This is clearly a warranty issue.

if you fill the tank and it only shows half full ( I believe that's what the OP is saying), Honda Canada Service Rep should be able to diagnose and authorize warranty replacement of defective part. If I were the owner of a brand new unit, I would not want to be pulling my pump assy, float assy, or sending unit for testing. That's crazy. (BTW I had a Yamaha Majesty Scooter that did the same thing and Yamaha replaced the fuel pump assy under warranty which fixed the problem)

That said our electrical gurus can probably figure it out.

In the meantime, I would use one of the trip meter for monitoring fuel/mileage by re-setting every time I fill up and calculating gas usage on my smart phone, multiplyiing mileage x tank capacity to figure when I need to stop for gas.

While we are awaiting replies from gurus, my first thought is a bent float rod or defective sender. Dealer may measure voltage to meter, but likely will need to pull the float/pump unit.

The output is red/blue to connector and then green/blue to meter.
If his year connector is in the headlight bucket, it would be easy access.

Popgun or Max or Peter might know something about the role of the thermistor.

[Cormanus]

A couple of things. It's not clear to me the OP is saying the gauge never shows full. Secondly, I wonder why Honda changed the amount of fuel left in the tank when the warning light comes on. The 2010 manual (on-line) claims there is 3.5 litres left at that point. In my experience that's pretty accurate.

Finally, if you don't trust the on-board computer on those new-fangled CB1100s, see this important survival thread ... http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....roomtomove

[Lord Popgun]

The fuel pump connector is behind the left side panel.

The resistor is not mentioned in the service manual, just shown on the schematic. Some of us think it may be to allow the fuel computer to compensate for fuel temp. At least one member though it monitored pump temp. But there are no fault codes for that and pump temp is not mentioned in the serial data reported to the ECU. Pre ‘14 models do not have it and also do not have fuel computers for mileage left, etc.

[johnny_longhair_imp]

Thanks for chiming in all. To clarify, gauge shows full when full. But takes almost 3/4 of driving before showing 1/2. I always go off trip meter and I always fill on center stand and it’s always FULL. it’s the bottom half that is unreliable. Also, I won’t be performing any surgery on the machine myself (I could, but why?) the dealer will be taking care of it under warranty. The only reason Service sent me to the forum was because they had not heard of this issue. Not that they didn’t believe me or were trying to put me off.

[SportsterDoc]

Thanks for chiming in all. To clarify, gauge shows full when full. But takes almost 3/4 of driving before showing 1/2. I always go off trip meter and I always fill on center stand and it’s always FULL. it’s the bottom half that is unreliable. Also, I won’t be performing any surgery on the machine myself (I could, but why?) the dealer will be taking care of it under warranty. The only reason Service sent me to the forum was because they had not heard of this issue. Not that they didn’t believe me or were trying to put me off.

When completely filled, mine uses 1.8 gallons when 3 segments disappear.
Typically just over 100 miles.

[peterbaron]

This is what I now understand :
1* gas meter has 6 bars when full
2* first/top half of gas tank makes more km than 2nd/bottom half..so in digital meaning you make i. e, 170 km with first half and 3 bars left on meter and only 130 km with the 2nd half, correct??
When 1/2 full, meeter always "hangs" in this position longer and after longer time starts dropping faster.
If this is the case , I would say there is nothing wrong with it, I see all my vehicles like this, not just CB.
Correct me if my understanding is wrong, please.

[johnny_longhair_imp]

This is what I now understand :
1* gas meter has 6 bars when full
2* first/top half of gas tank makes more km than 2nd/bottom half..so in digital meaning you make i. e, 170 km with first half and 3 bars left on meter and only 130 km with the 2nd half, correct??
When 1/2 full, meeter always "hangs" in this position longer and after longer time starts dropping faster.
If this is the case , I would say there is nothing wrong with it, I see all my vehicles like this, not just CB.
Correct me if my understanding is wrong, please.

peterbaron, I've got 4000 km on the bike only so far, but I consistently get 300km on a tank with 2.5 to 3 L remaining ie. Fill 13 to 13.5 for the supposed 16.5 L capacity. I track this religiously. Tank reads 1/2 after 200km. Drops fast to 1 block around 250. Should start to blink and give me readout of 60-80km remaining. It has a few times. But more often than not, it just goes to "--" which,according to the manual, is when 1 L is remaining. Which is BS since I've ridden 60km with this displayed. I'm never going to rely on the computer, but new bike, should work.