When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
In fighting with oil problems, I was tracing out my oil lines just because they were there. Staring at the side of the oil tank from the starboard side of the tank, my manual shows the left most line as the main oil feed (actually separated from the other two) and then the middle as the vent and the right most as the return from filter.
On the bike, the vent and return appear to be switched. If I remember correctly, both of these lines just end up high in the tank.
Does it matter if these lines are crossed? If so, how do I tell which is correct?
The oil lines on my bike (95 FLSTC) match what you said your manual shows. While I don't know if having them crossed matters I know they work well in the manual configuration. It is easy enough to change them if you want.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.