oil tank question
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: pennsylvania
oil tank question
I got another question...I maybe starting to second guess myself...I replaced the oil lines on my 88' fxrs..due to the new engine...when I flushed it out I looked down in the tank and saw two metal lines and one hole at the very bottom...now...I had intially hooked up the main feed to the oil pump to that hole at the very bottom.assuming that would be the main feedline to the pump..but I double checked at the HD dealer who gave me an oil tank diagram showing that hole line to be the oil filter outlet to oil tank vent(exact wording in the HD diagram)and the actual main feed line is next to it,but by looking down into the tank that has a metal tube coming up from the bottom of the tank and that is labled in the diagram as the oil tank out let to pump...and that is how I now have it hooked up...should I have the main feedline hooked to that open outlet at the bottom of the tank?...It also states in the Ultima manual that its a good rule of thumb that the main feed line is at the very bottom of the oil tank..but their diagram is using at softail style tank.if you are looking at an FXR tank from the seat position the three line ports will be on the right side...the HD diagram has the inner left one as the oil return from filter(open hole in the bottom of tank), the center as the oil tank outlet to oil pump(has metal tube) and the outer right line is the crankcase to oil tank vent which is the other metal tube and I have correctly hooked up according to the diagram...Do I have those two lines crossed?(return/main feed)...I wanna be absolutley sure.
Last edited by lowglide88; Apr 21, 2009 at 05:53 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
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From: South Carolina
Oil is fed by gravity from the bottom of the oil tank to the oil pump inlet. The tubes inside the tank are for the oil tank breather and the oil return from the filter. If you try feeding your oil pump from either of these tubes your pump will not get any oil,these tubes are above the oil level in the tank. Check your shop manual, it should have a drawing of the oil system.
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 116
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From: pennsylvania
I did oil prime the engine and the pump is getting oil...took off the top end feed cap and oil came shooting out while priming...also looked into the tank and the oil level was down...so the engine was drawing oil...the diagram I got from the harley dealer shows the tank and the three lines...but its stating that the return is the line with at the very bottom that is where I have it hooked up now...its possible that the return tube is not up as high in the tank as the breather...the manual does not give a distinct description..I guess what I'm saying is that I may have the two lines crossed..should I put the main oil feed back onto the one at the very bottom of the tank to be safe?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
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From: South Carolina
Think about this for a minute, why would you want to draw oil from the tank from a point not at the bottom, so you could run the engine out of oil even though you have several quarts in the tank?
Oil supply is from the bottom of the tank.
To be sure try this,
Drain your tank.
Disconnect the lines.
Pour a quart of oil into the tank, bet it only comes out one tube, the one at the bottom.
Oil supply is from the bottom of the tank.
To be sure try this,
Drain your tank.
Disconnect the lines.
Pour a quart of oil into the tank, bet it only comes out one tube, the one at the bottom.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Apr 22, 2009 at 04:50 AM. Reason: misspelling
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Bluffton, South Carolina
On some after market chromed oil tanks there are two fittings going to the bottom, the feed and return, with the vent going to the upper portion of the tank. These are not the greatest tanks to have as the returning oil can make it harder to get oil into the feed
.
.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
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Likes: 12,559
From: South Carolina
I would bet anyone who is using a tank with the return line at the bottom also has problems with excess oil out the breather due to the restriction on the returning oil...
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: NC USA
[quote=lowglide88;4896173]the diagram I got from the harley dealer shows the tank and the three lines...but its stating that the return is the line with at the very bottom that is where I have it hooked up now...its possible that the return tube is not up as high in the tank as the breather...the manual does not give a distinct description..quote]
If the diagram they gave you shows a triangle shaped tank (like's in the service manual) it's for the early 84's only. The only diagram for the later models shows a rectangular tank and doesn't tell you much...
You are correct in that there are 2 different lengths of pipes in your tank. The lower is the return, the higher is the oil tank vent and the feed line is the hole in the bottom.
If the diagram they gave you shows a triangle shaped tank (like's in the service manual) it's for the early 84's only. The only diagram for the later models shows a rectangular tank and doesn't tell you much...
You are correct in that there are 2 different lengths of pipes in your tank. The lower is the return, the higher is the oil tank vent and the feed line is the hole in the bottom.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: pennsylvania
I gonna switch them around and put the feed line on the open port at the very bottom of the tank...your right.. it makes the most sense that the feed line would be at the lowest point....thanx guys for your input
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