Gas tank question
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Gas tank question
Ok this might be a dumb question but I'm curious, this is my first harley, I've had it for about 3 years. I have an 88 Softail, the gas tank is 2 piece's with a hose connecting them on the bottom and top. When I fill it up, it'll fill up reall fast then the gas level will go down real slow. I'm guessing it fill's the side then flow's to the other, but it take's a long time. I'll have to sit there and wait more then 10 minutes or so. Is this normal? Or is there a vent that's clogged or something? The nipple on the bottom is real small so I figured it would take a while, but it seem's like something is wrong. Any advice?
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Rochester, NY
Newer bikes only have one gas cap on the right side with the phony one on the left for the gas gauge.
But a lot of the older ones had two gas caps, one for each side.
If it does try filling it on the left (low side when on the kick or jiffy stand) first, then topping it off on the right.
If not maybe one of the crossover lines is clogged up cause ten minutes seems awful long to me.
PS there is no such thing as a dumb question, unless its the one you didn't ask.
Cause the answer to that one is probably the one that will save you from making a big, expensive, and or painful mistake.
But a lot of the older ones had two gas caps, one for each side.
If it does try filling it on the left (low side when on the kick or jiffy stand) first, then topping it off on the right.
If not maybe one of the crossover lines is clogged up cause ten minutes seems awful long to me.
PS there is no such thing as a dumb question, unless its the one you didn't ask.
Cause the answer to that one is probably the one that will save you from making a big, expensive, and or painful mistake.
Last edited by In Memoriam Citoriplus; Apr 29, 2009 at 12:26 PM.
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I do have a cover on the left side, but it is extremely tight as in it won't budge at all. I was told not to try to get it off cause it probaly wont go back on. So I havent tried. Should I try to get it off? Should it just screw off like the right side? I had the tank off this winter and blew out all the lines, it doesn't seem as if they are clogged. I took the bike out the other day, and i'm sick of waiting at the pump.
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I do have a cover on the left side, but it is extremely tight as in it won't budge at all. I was told not to try to get it off cause it probaly wont go back on. So I havent tried. Should I try to get it off? Should it just screw off like the right side? I had the tank off this winter and blew out all the lines, it doesn't seem as if they are clogged. I took the bike out the other day, and i'm sick of waiting at the pump.
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From: Northern California
Not sure what kind of vent your model year has, but with both caps off you should have no trouble filling the tank. It's likely that without the left cap off there is nowhere for the air to escape while filling.
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hahahha, that would be my luck. I'm pretty sure i've tried turning it both way's though. I wanna leave work now and go take a look at it.
I figured it wasn't able to vent properly, so do people normally pop off both cap's to fill up?
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From: Northern California
I figured it wasn't able to vent properly, so do people normally pop off both cap's to fill up?[/quote]
With a two cap system and a vent problem they probably do.
With a two cap system and a vent problem they probably do.
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might try to ask in the Fuel, engine Tech section, and see if u get your answer.
there has to be a vent somewhere, either hose or cap if filled from one side
there has to be a vent somewhere, either hose or cap if filled from one side
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From: Rochester, NY
My bad, I totaly forgot the tanks had left and right hand threads on them.
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