Trying to figure out if I should have a hose on this tube coming out if the bottom of the gas tank on my 1990 Springer Softail.

On the bottom of the gas tank, there is a tube sticking out that has no hose attached to it. Its right behind the tube that balances the fuel between tank halves.

Is this a vent ? or an overflow? Should I have a hose connected to it that runs down and exits below the frame?

Thanks for the help.

Ed '90 FXSTS

 

Overfill vent, should have a tube on it that runs along the frame backbone and down out the back of the tranny.

 

While I don't know for sure, I think that little vent is an option for a California models and not used on your bike (but all tanks are made with the vent tube option).

I had the same short elbow/tube capped off on my 87 sportster from the factory. A vent was only used for California models for a charcoal canister under the seat.

All other states models did not use it so it is capped off. The paint looks factory to me, and the little cap on the tube (braised or soldered on) looks factory to me as well. I say leave it alone.

Most likely your gas cap is vented to the atmosphere. YD

 

Wither it is a vent or an overflow gas has the potential of coming out of it.
Do you really want gas running down the top of your hot motor?

Put a hose on it for piece of mind.

 

If it is like mine, then it is capped already. I have seen these before. A cap soldered or braised on before the tank was painted from the factory....YD

 

Put a small hose on it and blow through it. If you can get air through it it is open and you should put a hose on it. If you cannot get air through it it is sealed and you don't need to do anything.

 

If memory serves, I had one of them on my '89 Sporty. It was soldered shut and painted over (49 state bike). By '94, the vent had been moved to the top of the right side tank on the Softail, behind the right gas cap and under the dash. On my '94, the vent line runs from there to the swingarm and terminates with a hose barb attached to the swingarm. On the California bikes, that line runs to the charcoal canister.

 

Thanks guys, I will look at it from the other side and see if it is sealed.

 

My 94 has a hose that runs down like spanner said ,it's a vent , put a hose on about 2 ft long & run it down in between the tanks & under the seat down by the tranny