Is it listed as a separate piece in the parts catalog?

 

You could take a torch and cut it out.
But I wouldn't recommend it....might effect warranty coverage.

 

looked in my fatboy tank today and it has 1 as well, but it dosent stop me from getting gas

 

My wife’s 19 Deluxe (purchased new) has this visible. I don’t see it in my 18 Sport Glide (also purchased new). I also didn’t find it in the parts catalog as a separate part. I always figured it was to keep people from sinking the nozzle too deep into the tank and a) scratching paint and b) causing the gas pump to shut off sooner than expected.

 

Its a fuel IUD?

 

It might be so you don’t put the fuel nozzle in too deep and cause splash back?

 

These seem like the most likely reasons. Still strange why some have it and some don't though.

 

An out-there idea: this is a remnant of the factory. This wire is used to attach the tank to a material-handling machine.

The OP's wire should have been removed at the factory (as most of them all).
Yet OP's factory worker was asleep when his tank passed through.

 

Hmmm . . . maybe to hang the tank while painting??

 

Maybe, but they could have just as easily hooked the tank by the bung hole. Also that wire doesn’t look strong enough to support the weight of the fuel tank.

I’m stumped, unless there’s some local regulation regarding fuel nozzle fitment in some markets I’m not aware of.