Stranded Gas in the 2005 1600 Nomad Tank + Misc.

[dhg]

FYI -
There is almost 1/2 gallon left in the 05 Nomad 1600 tank after I run empty.
I knew there was a lot... I started running out while riding, made it the 1/2 block home, shutdown, removed the tank, shook 6 cups out of the top of the tank and siphoned another 1.5 cups (7.5 total). Then drove my tank in the back of my PU to a station and added 4.2 gal with the tank flat-level. Drove the tank home, installed it, then drove 1.8 mi back to the the station to top it off (no longer sitting flat-level installed on the bike) just flush with the bottom of the filler neck per the manual, another 1.2 gal for a total of 5.4.

The manual reports 5.3 gal. So the useable about is about 4.8 gal. My fuel light comes on between 4.0 and 4.7 gal, typical is 4.1-4.3 gal I am getting about 36mpg.

I needed to pull the tank anyway to wire my factory "fire and steel" tac, ~$300. In the process I found the choke cable tied up with the left side plug wire. Something the dealer missed during setup, not clearly visable from underneath. This was cool because the bike routinely dies 2-3 seconds after starting when cold and I have to hit the starter again. It never dies a second time. I am at 5,000 ft. I probably should not need to use the choke to prevent the startup failure, but I do. In the heat of the day (80-90F) it will not die out cold, but 70F and below it does every time. My idle speed is correct.

Not complaining just informing. Also, the shop manual has the hose procedure wrong for the tank removal and the 1->2 shift is the clunkiest, junkiest shift I have ever experienced outside of a BMW/Audi (car). They can take their neutural finder feature and keep it. I would much rather have a decent 1->2 shift.

I know standard manufacture's excuses for stranded gas in the tank. The are BS and can easily be overcome with good engineering. A half gallon is a long walk when you need it, plus the false advertising/failure to disclose the usable amount of the tank...

[Night Flight]

I'm not happy to hear this. I was hoping to have a long road trip without stopping as often as I did with the '04 Yamaha Silverado. As to the gas mileage, I have been riding twice a week with some friends and we maintain about 60 mph most of the time in these Ozark Mts. My mileage started out around 40 and has gone up as I get more miles on the bike. I have been getting over 45 the last several tanks, got 48 one time and I always fill my tank to the same level at the same gas pump. I know it will not be as good when I ride lead or by myself. LOL

I put the Cobra pipes on after 600 miles and the mileage did seem to get better.

[Cruiser4Fun]

I am almost to 600 mi on my new nomad. On this last tank the low light came on about 175 mi. I fueled up at 191 mi and she took 4.57 gallons. This is the most mileage I have pushed it between fill ups. I thought I had plenty left until I read your post about running out. Thanks for the heads up.

[Phatboy]

Originally Posted by dhg

The manual reports 5.3 gal. So the useable about is about 4.8 gal.

I read in another forum that the fuel pump in the tank takes up a half gallon for the VN2000 and I suspect it is the same for all the FI. You should be able to take the tank off that bike without having to drain the fuel. What the heck you taking the tank off for when you could just take a gas can to the station? Just to see how much fuel was in there? Well according to my calculations your 7.5 cups are .47 gallons- so there's the 1/2 gallon for the pump. Call Kawasaki.

And there have been two others who said their fast idle knob were tied up and not mounted on 05 Nads =(

As far as shifting goes- just put some pressure on the shifter before you pull in the clutch. It'll want to shift as soon as you let off the gas- with or without the clutch I'll just set my foot on the heel shifter so all I have to do is pull in the clutch Smooth between 1-2 as well as all other gears this way

[dhg]

Phatboy,

1) The fuel pump does not take up 1/2 gallon, the intake is set 1/2 gallon above the bottom of the tank... hence "Stranded Gas in the 2005 1600 Nomad Tank"

2) As I stated in my post I removed the tank to wire up my tac.

3) I never said I drained the tank before I removed it. The factory shop manual says to do this but this is one of several things thay have wrong.
I drained the tank to find out how much gas was stranded there below the fuel tank intake.

4) Thanks for the shift suggestion. I have tried every shift technique I could think of. I will try this too, although I will be suprised if it helps... I already tend to shift fast with very little clutch. I will keep my finders crossed. I think it is the neutral finder "idiot" feature designed in the tranie. The same feature that prevents you from shifting through the gears at a dead stop. Most of us old guys never had a problem finding neutral, especially with the addition of a neutral light. Clicking though the gears at a dead stop was a nice feature on most all the old bikes. You could quick stop or lazy stop without downshifting until after you were stopped, no more...

[Phatboy]

Ok I'm with you.

Old guy huh? Did you say the addition of the neutral light?? My old 82 440 had a neutral light and that bike is more than 20 years old =P Try the shifter preload- its good advice even if it came form me =P

[dhg]

Phatboy I owe you!
The preload works great. Your a genius.

[Phatboy]

Not my idea =/

[dhg]

Update - regrading the stranded gas (.5gal) below the fuel pump intake:
you can get the lost gas back by overfilling the tank...

I had been filling to the bottom of the filler neck as suggested in the owners manual and I assumed the steel tube inside the filler neck bottom was a direct overflow and that was that.

I just finished a long road trip where I decided to deliberately overfill the tank and see if the overflow was direct. IT IS NOT! I was able to overfill between .5 and .7 gal, after 15 minutes at 100 degrees plus, the overflow tube only started to drip very slowly. This gave me another ~25mi of range and makes up for the stranded fuel in the tank. I will not do it routinely but it is nice to know it is available if I need it. I also am setup to carry extra gas. Some of my rides are 100 miles between gas stations.

BTW: I checked the odometer error over 2000 mi with my GPS. It is 3% fast. The speedometer is 8% fast. I may buy the electronic fix soon.