fuel gauge, when is the tank empty?

paracer · Post by **paracer** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 3:43 pm

So, I'm trying to get a better idea of how to read the fuel gauge on my Buddy 125.

Where on the fuel gauge is the fuel tank actually close to empty? Am I safe to be a bit into the red? Is it not empty until it hits the peg? Is it that little tiny black dot?

Thanks in advance!

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 9:56 pm

Best way to find out? Get a small fuel can and put it on the floor board and go for a ride

.

paracer · Post by **paracer** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 10:05 pm

Thanks Bill! I might have to take a soda bottle of gas for a ride. Ha!

The 10th anniversary scoot is doing great! I'm about to cross over 300 miles by the end of the week. I did my first oil change last weekend, and I'll be doing gear oil on Saturday.

paracer · Post by **paracer** » Sat Apr 16, 2016 3:51 pm

So, I ran the tank pretty far. I filled up when the needle was resting on the pin while riding. I filled up with 1.05 gal of mid-grade. That fill-up went almost to the tank lid.

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Sat Apr 16, 2016 7:09 pm

DO NOT FILL TO THE TANK LID!!!

Only fill to about a couple inches below the top.

laurfunkle · Post by **laurfunkle** » Sat Apr 16, 2016 8:11 pm

k1dude wrote:DO NOT FILL TO THE TANK LID!!!

Only fill to about a couple inches below the top.

So very true! Reason: vapor lock. Always make sure you leave a little bit of room for your gas to "breathe," especially if it's warm outside.

paracer · Post by **paracer** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 3:21 pm

laurfunkle wrote: ...especially if it's warm outside.

And that must be why I haven't had issues yet. I will adjust my fill-up habits. Thanks guys!

Clydeo · Post by **Clydeo** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 5:05 pm

In my experience, the gas gauge is wildly non-linear: it stays on full for quite a while, and then drops like a rock. But I have discovered a sure fire way to know if there is any gas in the tank: if there is gas left, I Am riding. If not, Ibsm pushing. Works every time!

BoulderBud · Post by **BoulderBud** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 9:39 pm

One gallon is close to what mine takes when it hits the peg also. Why don't you just let it run out of gas and measure the miles? Mine has 25 miles after the peg is reached.

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 11:09 pm

Clydeo has the technique down well

I do agree about the Non linear thing. It seems to be a scooter thing. I own 4 genuines, a kymco, and a lance between myself and the kids. They all seem to show this habit. You have gas, plenty, plenty, then it falls like a stone. The Kymco is really the culprit. It will burn through half of its tank before the needle even moves.

The genuines seem to at least have the more accurate gauges of the bunch (excluding the Stellas).

paracer · Post by **paracer** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 1:39 am

The non-linear gas gauge thing applied to my first car, too. The first and last quarter tank would go 125 miles each. The middle half was only good for another 125 or so. Then that car became a track car and all bets were off.

I think I now know that I can ride until the gauge touches the peg. That will help when I do longer rides.

And to think, I can ride to work all week for less than $3.00. That even beats a but ticket. Though I don't get to sit next to bums when I take the scoot.

sc00ter · Post by **sc00ter** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 2:26 pm

A friend and I went for a loooong ride to meet a club for another loooonger ride, and we were both on Buddy 125's. I was tucked behind the windshield and slightly lighter than him. He was bolt upright looking over his windshield and is a bit heavier. I looked down and noticed I was low on fuel, and starting thinking gas station. He pulls up next to me at the next light freaking out, his Buddy was ON EMPTY! He sputtered into the gas station when we finally found one. Moral of story=I carry a filled 1 quart MSR fuel bottle on long runs thru remote places now just in case. And if you do need the fuel, open the bottle slowly.

skipper20 · Post by **skipper20** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 3:58 pm

sc00ter wrote:A friend and I went for a loooong ride to meet a club for another loooonger ride, and we were both on Buddy 125's. I was tucked behind the windshield and slightly lighter than him. He was bolt upright looking over his windshield and is a bit heavier. I looked down and noticed I was low on fuel, and starting thinking gas station. He pulls up next to me at the next light freaking out, his Buddy was ON EMPTY! He sputtered into the gas station when we finally found one. Moral of story=I carry a filled 1 quart MSR fuel bottle on long runs thru remote places now just in case. And if you do need the fuel, open the bottle slowly.

Where can these 1 quart MSR fuel bottles be purchased?

Bill in Seattle

paracer · Post by **paracer** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 4:06 pm

skipper20 wrote:Where can these 1 quart MSR fuel bottles be purchased?

Bill in Seattle

That sounds like the bottles of fuel that are now sold in auto parts stores like AutoZone. They're intended for lawnmowers and such. Some of them include pre-mix, so be careful when you pick one out. The sealed container would be nice for travel. I would maybe be worried about pressure buildup during hot summer months.

iwannascoot · Post by **iwannascoot** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 4:21 pm

MSR Fuel bottles are used primarily for camping stove fuel. They are available at sporting goods stores. Also available at Amazon and a google search will find lots of sources.

Billy

Neurotic-Hapi-Snak · Post by **Neurotic-Hapi-Snak** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 4:34 pm

skipper20 wrote:
sc00ter wrote:A friend and I went for a loooong ride to meet a club for another loooonger ride, and we were both on Buddy 125's. I was tucked behind the windshield and slightly lighter than him. He was bolt upright looking over his windshield and is a bit heavier. I looked down and noticed I was low on fuel, and starting thinking gas station. He pulls up next to me at the next light freaking out, his Buddy was ON EMPTY! He sputtered into the gas station when we finally found one. Moral of story=I carry a filled 1 quart MSR fuel bottle on long runs thru remote places now just in case. And if you do need the fuel, open the bottle slowly.
Where can these 1 quart MSR fuel bottles be purchased?

Bill in Seattle

Amazon or a sporting goods store, they're used for the small backpacking liquid fuel stoves. MSR is just a brand name, makes great stoves by the way.

What I did was picked up 2 1 quart bottles of Coleman fuel on clearance, once the fuel was gone, repurposed the bottles as back up fuel jugs for long rides.

A-A-Ron125 · Post by **A-A-Ron125** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 7:31 pm

Hi all,

I'm brand new to the forum. I just bought a used 2015 Buddy 125 with only 400 miles, and I've put about two-hundred miles on it since then. I've noticed that each time I start it up, the fuel gauge is a little lower than when I ended my previous trip. The other day I had turned it off with the needle just touching "E" and when I turned it on again, the needle was right in the middle of "E." I rode it for a while and was getting concerned about running out of gas, but I wasn't too far from home so I figured I'd try to get it to my destination. After a few miles, the fuel needle was literally resting on the little peg that sticks out, but I was still going. I'd say I rode for about 3/4 of a mile with the needle resting on that peg before I got gas, and my scooter never stuttered once, so I probably had a little gas to spare. I'm not sure if this is the situation with all Buddy's, but I now feel comfortable riding until the needle hits that peg before I get really desperate!

Clydeo · Post by **Clydeo** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 9:18 pm

I have found that my very best gas gauge is the odometer. The Buddy is quite consistent when it comes to mileage. I usually gas up at around 80 miles, leaving myself a healthy reserve. The gas gauge on any bike is handy, but is never a good indicator of how much gas you may or may not actually have, at least in my experience.

sc00ter · Post by **sc00ter** » Sat Apr 23, 2016 5:12 am

Exactly Clydeo. I starting filling the Buddy 125 up at every 100 miles, or as close to 100 miles as possible. Being dumb I cant remember how much gas went in, but it was very close to the same amount everytime. Unfortunately no one has ridden the Buddy in 4 months now and the battery is totally flat/dead. I may just get 'er back on the road this weekend, feel kinda guilty. Note about the MSR bottles. I use ethanol free gas in the bottle so it can sit without going bad. Has never leaked but I do put a piece of tape over the lid just in case. Fill bottle, toss under seat and hopefully never need it. If you do use it, open the cap sloooowly, no matter what the weather! Also, dont fill it to the tippy top as fuel does expand. Learn from my mistakes!

Modern Buddy

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