So after my fuel gauge just start playing up last week, working one minute and next flashing up empty, I’ve checked connections under seat all look ok so thinking I’m just gonna replace the level sensor in tank, I’ve checked mine and looks original as it’s got a date from 2016 on it and part no ends in D. I believe G is the latest sensor but I’ve seen a F sensor new and alot cheaper, would this swap straight on and work ok?
A newer sensor should work better that the old one. This is a problem that has dogged Multis from the start, and as you have found out there have been several upgrades tried to cure the issue. I've not seen many posts here recently about sender failures so I think the newer ones are more reliable. I saw a Youtube video where a failed sensor was analysed. It was found to be a bad connection in one of the wires in the bottom, which is unusual as they are buried in epoxy. The poster said normal failure mode is micro cracks in soldered connections on the PC board caused by repeated heat cycles, as the sensor is positioned directly above the rear cylinder.
Faulty fuel level sender units are not that rare and is a very well known fault in the 1200/1260 lineup. Outside of the obvious solution to replace or attempt to repair. I strongly recommend treating your fuel tank to a bit of protection against Ethanol once or twice a year. I do it every few thousand kilometers. I use only this stuff and have yet to have a problem after I suffered the same fault on my first 1200.
I do something very similar. I experienced the issue once and ever since have used a measure of Seafoam additive ( off ebay) ever few tankfuls and not had the issue again. Can't guarantee it'll work for everyone but it did the trick for me.
