Gas Gauage Issue

[dchristi51]

 Hi everyone from Tulsa Oklahoma!!
Just purchased a 2007 People 250, which so far I love, but the gas gauge is making me parnoid.  I went to fill up this week-end and it didn't take a full gallon of gas although the guage was showing almost on empty.  I know it will
take almost 2 gallons of gas, so it was only about half empty.  Are the gas gauges just not acurate, or is there something faulty that I need to correct.  If anyone has any info, I would appreciate a post.
Thanks!

[axy]

Hi everyone from Tulsa Oklahoma!!
Just purchased a 2007 People 250, which so far I love, but the gas gauge is making me parnoid.  I went to fill up this week-end and it didn't take a full gallon of gas although the guage was showing almost on empty.  I know it will
take almost 2 gallons of gas, so it was only about half empty.  Are the gas gauges just not acurate, or is there something faulty that I need to correct.  If anyone has any info, I would appreciate a post.
Thanks!

Not accurate, forget it.

[JustWantToRide]

Strap a small gas tank to the back and ride it until it runs out - then you'll know where the gauge goes to,  A little piece of pinstripe tape to mark it comes in handy.  You may find that if you lean the bike to the right then the gas gauge reads more gas.  It isn't accurate - but if it moves then you know you've got gas.

The gauge is controlled by a float arm like one an old fashioned toilet.  You can take the sensor off the tank and  bend the arm (it's the square on the top left of the tank held down with 4 bolts and wires coming off of it) - but you risk getting a leak or breaking the sensor.  I've taken a similar one apart and found that it was basically bent to fit into the tank.  I was able to get it a bit more accurate by holding the unit partway out of the tank and using a modified BBQ fork (I bent the tongs over and together to be able to do this) to reach in and bend the arm slightly up.  Yours needs to be bent down - so it should be easier.  When you bend it - don't put pressure on the arm or you will rip it off the sensor unit.  It isn't rocket science - but since the same part is used in different tanks they don't always get bent to the right angle for your tank (if ever).  Sometimes the tank has something in the way of the arm.  If you're like me and figure it should read right - then it's worth messing with.  Expect to tear it apart at least 2 times before you're happy...

[MaryK]

Many gas gauges are inaccurate.  Most riders rely on their odometers or trip meters.
Reset the trip meter when you fill up & buy gas when you get 100 miles on it.
If the tripmeter is unhandy to use, then use the odometer and fill when it reads an even number of miles.

Scoot safely

[axy]

Strap a small gas tank to the back and ride it until it runs out - then you'll know where the gauge goes to,  A little piece of pinstripe tape to mark it comes in handy.  You may find that if you lean the bike to the right then the gas gauge reads more gas.  It isn't accurate - but if it moves then you know you've got gas.

The gauge is controlled by a float arm like one an old fashioned toilet.  You can take the sensor off the tank and  bend the arm (it's the square on the top left of the tank held down with 4 bolts and wires coming off of it) - but you risk getting a leak or breaking the sensor.  I've taken a similar one apart and found that it was basically bent to fit into the tank.  I was able to get it a bit more accurate by holding the unit partway out of the tank and using a modified BBQ fork (I bent the tongs over and together to be able to do this) to reach in and bend the arm slightly up.  Yours needs to be bent down - so it should be easier.  When you bend it - don't put pressure on the arm or you will rip it off the sensor unit.  It isn't rocket science - but since the same part is used in different tanks they don't always get bent to the right angle for your tank (if ever).  Sometimes the tank has something in the way of the arm.  If you're like me and figure it should read right - then it's worth messing with.  Expect to tear it apart at least 2 times before you're happy...

It will not help because of shape of P250's tank. There is big and small bowl. Float sensor is in the small one, so it will be actuated only after the whole big bowl is empty (approx. 4 l). So, the gauge actually measures the last 3-4 liters.

This was discussed many times on this forum.

[JustWantToRide]

It will not help because of shape of P250's tank. There is big and small bowl. Float sensor is in the small one, so it will be actuated only after the whole big bowl is empty (approx. 4 l). So, the gauge actually measures the last 3-4 liters.

This was discussed many times on this forum.

The gauge is reporting close to empty when it will only take a gallon (4l), you are describing a situation where it reads full until it gets down to 4l...  What you are discussing axy is not what this person is experiencing.

[axy]

The gauge is reporting close to empty when it will only take a gallon (4l), you are describing a situation where it reads full until it gets down to 4l...  What you are discussing axy is not what this person is experiencing.

Yes, I know. The point is that there is no way to make the gauge accurate in the setup as it is.

When I had 750 cc Kawasaki, it had a slightly off gauge and there was a known tweak to add a small resistor on the back plate of the gauge by soldering it and it would be spot on.
With P250(S), it is screwed beyond possiblity of repair by design, if absolute accuracy is what you are after...

[P250Fanatic]

With no trip odo on the p250, I just keep a little note in my phone of the "kilometer-age" it had during the last fill-up and don't let it go too much farther than 200. Be aware also that this bike is prone to dying on a hot day with a full tank of gas and the only solution I've found is to pop the gas cap periodically while coasting so the engine stays running.  Small inconveniences on an otherwise perfect scoot!  Oh wait, a perfect scoot wouldn't scrape the kickstand on turns so much!

[JustWantToRide]

With no trip odo on the p250, I just keep a little note in my phone of the "kilometer-age" it had during the last fill-up and don't let it go too much farther than 200. Be aware also that this bike is prone to dying on a hot day with a full tank of gas and the only solution I've found is to pop the gas cap periodically while coasting so the engine stays running.  Small inconveniences on an otherwise perfect scoot!  Oh wait, a perfect scoot wouldn't scrape the kickstand on turns so much!

That's a problem with the gas tank not venting...

[BigBadger]

With no trip odo on the p250, I just keep a little note in my phone of the "kilometer-age" it had during the last fill-up and don't let it go too much farther than 200. Be aware also that this bike is prone to dying on a hot day with a full tank of gas and the only solution I've found is to pop the gas cap periodically while coasting so the engine stays running.  Small inconveniences on an otherwise perfect scoot!  Oh wait, a perfect scoot wouldn't scrape the kickstand on turns so much!

Check the vent in your gas cap.  May need to be cleaned/reamed out.

[P250Fanatic]

Sounds like good advice, I'll try that! Thanks!

[lavoyermn]

  I Have a KYMCO PEOPLE 250 2006     I filled the tank up and wrote the Kil down   watch the kill per gal   found out how many per gal  on hiway and in town    Now when I fill tank I add the kil pe tank and I WRITE IT ON A PLASTIC PIECE OF TAPE WITH WET ARASE PEN   WORKS OUT VERY WELL FOR KNOWING WHEN TO GET GAS     AND I DO USE NONE ETHENAL GAS ONLY