Can anybody in here answer a question for me. I have 1990 FXR that is leaking at the oil filter housing. I think its coming from the fitting. I'm planing on pulling the whole thing off and checking it to make sure. Has anybody out there had the same problem? How hard of a job is it to take this housing off?

 

My bike was leaking where the hose attached to the fitting. I fixed it for a couple years with a regular hose clamp. Eventually, I replaced all the hoses with braided stainless. The fitting itself could be leaking where it screws into the housing, too.

 

Looks like I know what I'll be doing this weekend. Thanks Dr. Hess

 

Hey HG..I had the same on my 1988 FXRS...when I did my engine swap I replaced the lines and tightend up the fittings on the oil filter housing...you have to remove the starter to get to the bolt..its mounted to the trans housing...your oil filter is mounted underneath right?...did not know if they changed that and moved it up to the front of the motor in 90'

 

If you have a suitable wrench or short flex-ratchet, you can get them off by going underneath, in front of the rear tire and over the swingarm. A lot of crud will accumulate and it's hard to see or find the bolt head sometimes. And it's been 16 years since I had mine off and cannot remember the size.

The factory did not use any sealant at all on the fittings and they tend to leak there as often as the hose. You'll have to cut the original clamps off with cutters and the rubber gets real hard over the years. But, screw type clamps will work fine. And I highly recommend removing the hoses FIRST if you're going to take the entire housing out from under there. Too hard to get the hoses off with the housing dangling - cause it won't drop very far.

 

Yes the filter is under the bike. I'm still trying to figure out why anybody would design a motor with the filter under the bike. What if your on the interstate and a rock gets kick up, goes under the bike and hits the filter. It just seems to me that I would want the filter located somewhere safe.
Thanks for the info guys.

 

Well, it's "on the way" from the pump to the tank for one thing. I've got 100,000 on mine with never a dent on it, even when running the extra-long filter a few times. The metal of the filter is very flexable and it'd take a really sharp hit to puncture it and it is above the frame....

I know a guy who's had to replace the oil tank on his TC three times from getting hit by debris. So the bottom, underneath oil filter is the lesser of two evils it would seem to me.

 

I've got over 75K on my bike with the filter in the same place. Never a single dent. Getting to those lines is a PITA, but you only have to do it every 15-20 years, so big deal. I prefer the filter up under there versus hanging out front where you get oil over everything when you change it. And if you don't use a chrome filter, who cares? I use Toyota filters now, which come black, but before I figgered out the cross, I used to use Supertech which are blue. Under there, no big deal. Hanging out front, looks a little cheesy. Sometimes I'd put a Supertech on my bike and a HD on the Sporty because you could see it. Now, they all get Toyota.

 

Just started working on it last night. Everything you guys told me was exactly what I found. The one fitting was so loose I removed it with my fingers. I ran out of time last night, due to the fact that my beer was calling me, so I didn't pull the housing off yet. I'm going to try to use a flex wrench like "t150vej" described.

 

my filter housing has been loose a few times on my 91 flhs I can tell ya my housing bolt is a left handed thread.Ive been able to tighten it from outside by turning the bolt 1 flat at a time.Actualy as you losen the filter your tighting the bolt.