Harley Davidson Softail: How to Replace Oil Pump
Replacing your oil pump is a relatively easy job that you can do yourself to resolve your pesky oil leak problem.
This article applies to the Harley Davidson Softail.
Have you noticed a leak around your oil pump? Don't despair, replacing the oil pump on your Softail isn't as daunting a task as it might appear. There are only a few steps needed to remove and replace the oil pump. A new oil pump may run you a couple of bills, but you likely can be on the road again with just a gasket change and a good cleaning. Most oil pumps will not fail, but the gaskets will get brittle and crack over time, causing a leak. Debris could possibly get inside and damage the gears, but that is easily remedied as well and at a much lessor cost than an entire pump replacement. In many cases, Harley owners that have decided to replace the oil pump will go with a high performance or higher flow rate oil pump, especially those who live in hotter climates. These may cost a bit more than an OEM; however, the procedure is basically the same and you'll save a bunch of money taking on this job yourself rather than having a pro do the job for you. Since the oil is the lifeblood of your ride, if you are at all jittery about doing this work, be sure to take your ride to a reputable and knowledgeable mechanic to do this job for you. These steps do not include removing your pipes, but you may opt to do that to make access to the oil pump a lot easier.
Materials Needed
- Ratchet and socket set, or box wrenches of 7/16" and 1/2"
- Flat head screwdriver
- Oil drain pan
- Replacement oil
- Shop rags
Step 1 – Drain the oil
Before removing the oil pump, you must remove the oil first.
- Get your pan into position under the drain plug.
- Remove the oil fill cap.
- Remove the drain plug and let the oil drain into the pan.
Step 2 – Remove two upper hoses from the oil pump
There are two hoses connected to the top of the oil pump face plate. These are attached with two hose clamps. A flat head screwdriver is needed to loosen the clamps and slide them up the hose. Once the hose clamps are out of the way, pop the two hoses off of the oil pump face plate. There will be a little oil discharge from the two hoses, so have your catch pan ready and some shop rags to clean up the mess.
Figure 2. Loosen these two hose clamps (highlighted in yellow) and slide them up out of the way 
Figure 3. After loosening the hose clamps with a flat head screwdriver, slide them up and out of the way. 
Figure 4. With the hose clamps removed, the hoses pop right off.
Step 3 – Remove front of oil pump
There are four bolts on the oil pump face plate. Two are close to the pipes, while the other two are slightly further in. Remove these four bolts with a 7/16" box wrench. This will be quite messy as well, so have some shop rags handy to clean up the spilled oil.
Figure 5. Remove the oil pump. It should pop straight off after all four bolts have been loosened or removed. 
Figure 6. Remove the four bolts on the oil pump with a 7/16" box wrench.
Step 4 – Remove back of oil pump
With the front of the oil pump removed, the two gears are expose. On the larger gear, there is a snap ring that must come off using a small flat head screwdriver. Once the clip is off, both gears can be removed. The smaller or slave gear does not have a "key way," but the larger one does, so it can only be replaced in one position. With the gears removed, the back part of the oil pump can now be removed by taking out the two 7/16" mounting bolts at the top. You may need a rubber mallet to break the oil pump free. There are two more gears and another key way on the backside of the rear oil pump.
Figure 7. Remove the snap ring retainer on the main oil pump gear. 
Figure 8. Make sure to not lose the key way on the larger gear. 
Figure 9. Remove the two 7/16" mounting bolts for the back part of the oil pump 
Figure 10. Once the rear part of the oil pump is removed, you'll see two more gears and another key way. 
Figure 11. Oil Pump is now completely removed.
Pro Tip
Most oil leaks from the oil pump are usually caused by a bad gasket rather than a failed oil pump. Once the front part of the pump is removed, the gasket can simply be replaced and that should solve the problem. Many folks opt to purchase a higher flowing oil pump when doing a replacement to help with extra cooling in hotter environments.
Step 5 – Install new oil pump
If you have purchased a high-flow oil pump, follow the manufacturer's installation procedures. They should be bolt in with the proper fitment, and an OEM replacement will go back on just as the old came off. You may not need to actually replace the oil pump, but give it a good cleaning. It is possible that some debris got lodged into the gearing and that should be the extent of any problems you may have been experiencing. If that is the case, be sure to examine the drive gear teeth for any damage. Be sure to clean up any gasket residue from all mounting surfaces before applying the new gaskets. If you are using an RTM-type of sealant, be sure to follow the recommended curing times before starting your bike. You may also want to have some replacement snap rings on hand in case you bent yours upon removal. Don't forget to replace the oil before you start her up.
Featured Videos: Oil Pump Removal
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Part 1
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Part 2
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