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.
I am gathering up parts for a "make over" for my 94 Heritage.
Looking to move up to 5 gallon tanks. I have picked up OEM fenders at reasonable prices off Ebay but I see that OE tanks are going for a good deal of money for a nice clean set.
Really not looking to do any body work if I can avoid it.
Any thoughts or experiences with aftermarkat?
Who makes decent aftermaket stuff? Who should I stay away from?
Beside moving up to the 5 gallon set up I really plan to keep my original tins as is and store them away.
My tanks were put on in 05, bought them from JP cycles raw, I coated them inside before i painted them. They seem to be holding up fine.......i can't remember what they cost but at the time i thought it was a fair price.
I have used several sets of aftermarket softail tanks...both 5 and 6 gallon...had good luck with all of them. Coating the inside is very important before painting...Kreem sucks...Por-15 rocks.
I bought a 6 gallon tank for my old Glide on Ebay for around 100 dollars, with a small dent in it. Fortunately my painter was a panel beater in an earlier life, so it didn't present him with any challenge to remove. I saved a lot by doing that, however my attempts to use a local car dent fixer proved a waste of time, because Harley tanks are seriously thick and strong, compared with car panels.
There are damaged H-D tanks available for a small outlay on Ebay. Careful picking over may get one that can be straightened and painted for a much better price than some of the silly sound tanks. On the other hand JP Cycles have new twin tanks in 5 or 6 gallons for just over 200 dollars, possibly others.
I did see a set for $ 130 at JP but the ones I looked at did not list as a correct fit for my 94. I will go back and check again.
No brainer at that price.
The one I'm looking at is #7200145 and the fitment guide helpfully says 'Harley-Davidson models'! However I haven't searched their catalogue, just bumped into that one. I'm sure the nice bearded Tech can advise a suitable tank for your bike! Also bear in mind that H-D themselves are very conservative on which parts will fit any given model and we can often adapt the 'wrong' parts with a little effort. The JP Tech may be able to give some tips.
7200145 is a shovelhead tank...7200260 is listed as the correct 5 gallon tank for your bike...all softail tanks 84-99 will bolt up...the only difference between them is the capacity and the location of the petcock...the early tanks had the petcock between the cylinders...the newer ones had it located further back...because of the vacuum petcock?...I have used both on my bike with a standard petcock. Some OEM tanks also had an additional vent tube that came out in front next to the crossover line...I assume this is for cali emissions...I have never seen one that was actually hooked to anything....never seen one on an aftermarket tank. When going to bigger tanks(especially 6 gallon) be sure to check handlebar clearance at full lock
Last edited by Tom84FXST; Jan 24, 2014 at 06:12 AM.
...7200260 is listed as the correct 5 gallon tank for your bike...
$260 with free shipping - a snip!
The differences between the various tanks they advertise passes over my head, I must admit, but there are also 6 gallon ones that look similar for similar prices.
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.