Looked at youtube videos for changing the fuel filter and of course you get all kinds of stuff, nothing exactly what you need. One said, ALL the fuel injected models had an articulating arm inside the tank and showed how to take it out. So I took off the tank cover and it looked different that the video and it looked simpler. 15 minutes later, and no articulating arm inside the tank and it’s out. $25 later, I have a new filter, o-ring and gasket.

1. Take of the screws for the tank top plate.
2. Remove plate, gasket and electrical connection.
3. Remove the components from the inside of the tank. This takes a little finesse but it's pretty easy. Also undo the electrical connection.
4. The large black body is the fuel filter and it is attached via a big C friction clamp, where you just slide it off the "C".
5. Remove the copper "U" ring and take the cover off and you have the fuel filter.
6. Replace with a new filter, o-ring and plate gasket.

As you can see from the pic, at 40K I was overdue.

 

Thanks for posting this. I was also searching youtube for videos to see how to do this.

Your directions make it seem easy enough.

 

So i decided to do this today. A few things I want to add and some part numbers.

I have a 2009 Softail Deluxe with 12, 600 miles which I bought back in October.
The previous owner really didnt take the best care of it so I changed all the fluids and plugs.

I was searching how to change the fuel filter since I heard it was pain in the *** and like most of you ran across that YouTube video with the articulating arm.

After searching I found "shucks" thread. (thanks shucks )

Part numbers

#1311D Sealing Screws

You will 10 of these and they come 5 to a bag.

Cost $1.04 X10 =$10.40

#61011-04A Fuel Filter Kit with O-Ring

just one

Cost $17.77

#61381-02 Top Gasket Plate

just one

Cost $6.19

Total cost of parts $34.36 +tax

That is all the parts you will need.
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Now for tools

1. 1/2 wrench or socket w/ ratchet

used to remove speedometer nut

2. Torx 20

used to remove the 10 screws holding on the top plate

3. small flat screw driver
used to remove the electrical connections and to help pull off the U ring.


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Just a few pics

 

few more pics

 

The biggest pain was to get the U ring to slide back into place

Total time was around 30 minutes

Definitely dont do it with a full tank not that you cant, but it makes easier in case you need to get a beer or another tool.

 

Hi all,

I followed this guide to change out the filter on my 2008 Fatboy today. It has 31,500 miles on it. The old filter was pretty bad. Now, however, I can't get my bike to run. The engine will fire but then die right away. I did undo one of the fuel connections to have easier access to the U-ring (the one on the bottom of the assembly in the picture titled "Make sure the housing is snug). I re-attached it once I got the U-ring back on. Any suggestions? Is the fuel filter directional? I didn't see any marks indicating it had to go in a certain way.

Update: fixed it. Didn't mount the O ring in the fuel filter housing correctly. I just dropped it on top of the filter & forced the other half in, resulting in no seal. Took it apart the day after I posted this & got it running again.

Thanks!

Josh

 

Thanks for the guidance on changing my fuel filter! You made super easy!

George

 

Great instructions and pics thanks