New fuel sender - ease my mind . . .

[HCorn]

I replaced the fuel sender on my 86 K75 (float type) after having an earlier "incident" involving me on the side of the road with no fuel.  The light now works.  My idiot light began to glow at about 135 miles.  I added 3.3 gallons at 150 miles.  (Regular tank with flapper).   So my gas mileage appears to be okay.  But it seems like the fuel light is coming on way too soon.  I guess I was under the impression we should pretty easily get 200 miles to a tank.  Given how early the light came on, I'd be nervous trying to go 200 miles. 

My understanding is that the light should go on with about a gallon left.   I've read varying things about tank capacity and usable capacity, but if the light comes on at 135 miles, I'm not making it 65 more miles on a gallon of gas. 

Normal?
Float needs adjustment?
Something else wrong?

(By the way - I had run out of gas with 175 miles on the earlier incident.  But I definitely didn't fill it to the top that time and I later learned, and fixed, that my fuel pump was sitting up too high.)

[Scott_]

If you really want to be specific on when you want the light to come on.
Drian the fuel out of the tank.
Put into the tank however much fuel you want "left" when the light comes on.
Bend/adjust the float to come on at that level.

That should get you where you want.

[HCorn]

The only problem with doing it that way is not knowing how much usable fuel is in the tank. If I drain the tank and put in a gallon, it may only be able to suck up two quarts worth.  When I ran out of gas the previous time, there was still a decent amount of gas in the tank.  I've since pushed the pump further down, which should help, but there will still be a decent amount of unusable fuel in there. 

I think I need to just drive around with some extra gas until I run out to see how many miles I can actually get.  I don't know why, but even with extra gas that doesn't sound too fun.  But 140 miles/3 gallons still seems early for the light to come on.  But it might just be my expectations. 

[frankenduck]

Hint:  You can get a few more miles out of it if you lean the bike to the left while riding.  Not a lot but might save some pushing.

[Scott_]

Well then another option would be to disconnect the fuel line from the fuel rail, direct it to a gas can for containment and run the fuel pump till it stops pumping fuel.
That will get you to the useable limit.

You will have to power the fuel pump externally as the bike electrics won't keep it running without the engine running.