Well my motor is leaking pretty bad and I am going to attempt my first top end rebuild on my '89 Electraglide Ultra Classic with 58,000 miles on it.

I bought it last summer and the engine didn't leak at all. I upgraded the butterfly carb to a CV, put in a Revtech high flow air cleaner, and installed Screaming Eagle slip on pipes. The bike is running great but the oil leaking situation is getting pretty severe.

I just got my gaskets today and started taking off the plastic parts and exhaust to get access to the motor.

I don't really know what I am doing so I will have questions I'm sure. First question is do I need to drain the oil to do the top end gaskets including the lifter block gaskets?

Question #2 Is there a way to take off the gas tank without draining the gas. On my old bike I just clamped the gas line but it looks like that crossover line will have to come off to take off tank and I don't want gas spilling all over the place. It's pretty full.

Thanks.
[/URL]
Got the pipes off after taking off all the heat shields and mounting brackets... lots of PB Blaster 'cause this thing is 25 years old and it doesn't look as if it's come off before today.
[/URL]
Definatley looks like it needs some TLC

 

You won't have to drain the oil, but you will want to drain the fuel.

I'm a big believer in having a service manual at hand.

 

Where in CO are you located? How are you set on tools? Do you have a manual? The manuals seem expensive, but worth their weight in gold.

 

I didn't drain the fuel... and it was a mess. With the vaccum operated petcock there really is no good way to drain the fuel. Pop the cross overline and yank the tank off real quick, set it on a folded up towel and reconnect it. Drain it before you put it back on.

 

The oem shop manual is a must have.

Might help to search through some youtube videos
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...+rebuild&sm=12

Not only would I drain the tank, I'd remove the petcock and clean or replace the screen and rinse any trash out.

To drain, connect a hose to the petcock and turn on reserve till it's empty, no vacuum on that ol' girl

 

I think Bandits up by Erie. You're by Castle Rock. Oh Colorado, I miss it.

 

Yes that's right I am in Erie. Thanks for the quick replies. I have a manual but it's not the best. On tools I don't really have any Harley specialty tools if that's what you mean. My tool set is pretty basic, so I might have to get a couple of things I suppose. We'll see.

 

Okay I will try to do it this way thanks

 

I put a cam in a few years back and have some of the tools you need. Puller for the nose cone, cam bearing puller, lifter block alignment pins, dial indicator, and a torque wrench. I can help out if you would like.

 

Colorado is nice.