Uncle has a 2007 softtail standard, he wants to remove the tank today, and asked for help.....havent removed a tank before, what all is involved, and how bad is it? I know the bolts wont be bad, but draining the tank, and how much room underneath do we have for wiring?

Thanks for your help!!

 

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It's fairly simple. This is the disassembly destructions from the 07 service manual. Once you get the bolts out there is enough slack in conections and lines to raise the tank enough to get hands in where you need them. The less fuel there is in the tank the ewasier this becomes.

I found the worst part to be dealing with the crossover. The directions tell you to drain the tank on the bike....plug on side with a scrap piece of hose and route the other end into a container. I plug one end with a nub hose and stick a bolt in the cross over end. Then both sides are plugged. I remove the tank from the bike and then, depending on what I am doing, i'll drain the tank. But if I'm just doing something quick I won't drain it. Its quicker and easier for me to just plug both ends.

Either way, stick a bunch of rags or towels under the cross overs when you pull them. No matter how fast you are gas is going to come out. This can get messy in a hurry.



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Cool man!! Thanks for your time and help!!

 

I have 2 large hemostats (scissor like surgical locking clamp) that I clamp on each side of the crossover tube. I cut the hose in the center and push in a 12” piece of 1/4 "copper tube on one side, release one clamp and let it drain. Repeat for the other side. Unless you run the tank dry you are going to get gas all over the bike and yourself. Especially, if you forget to take off the gas cap. Trust me! You can get the clamps at a medical supply or if you have a friend that works at a hospital they can get you a throw away for nothing. The have a hundred uses in the shop.