1986 883 XLH Sportster
I have the original peanut tank, having to look for a gas station every 80-86 miles. I'm wanting to put make longer trips, the best I've been able to find is the 3.1 gallon king tank on eBay for $100-130. Is this the best route to take? (without havIng to change the seat) looks like the same height and length but 2 or so inches wider. Thanks

 

the newer 4.5 gals won't fit?

 

thinking about doing a tank swap as well. be sure to post what you end up doing.

 

Depending on how much mod you want to do on the tank you can make any tank fit or get someone to custom build one.

 

The 4.5 only fits '04 & newer.
I've seen some 4.0 & 4.2 tanks for the older Sporties.

 

Around the time your bike was built there was a version of the Sportster called a Roadster, with a wider 4 gallon tank, which might be worth looking for. There are plenty of tanks available from the usual custom outlets, like J&P Cycles etc, who have them up to 4.2 gallons and in a variety of styles.

 

I went from the peanut 2.1 to the 3.2 King Tank on my 48, I bought it new (purchased and delivered =$217.00) inside tank sealed $75.00, prepped, prime and paint really depends if you can do it yourself or if you are going to have a shop do it and if it is a shop then I'm sure that price can vary from $250 to $400. I purchased mine at Sportster Specialty link below.

http://www.sportsterspecialty.com/ha...gas-tanks.html

 

Whatever tank you do get, make sure it is the correct year tank for your bike, no matter what the tank's info says. Look closely at the pictures, and make sure the tank mounts are correct. Make sure that the tank mounts are visible in the photos, that it shows the tank NOT mounted on the bike.

I'd painted a lot of sporty tanks over the years, and there's been many changes since 1986 in the way the tank mounts. I don't know exactly which year has what kind of tank mounts, but sometimes the rear mounts are in different places while the front mounts look the same.

Be sure before you buy, especially if you are buying on ebay. And also if buying a bare metal tank, most of these are very cheaply made overseas. There's a good chance that it will need body work and the tank will need sealed inside.

If you need to seal the tank, take it to a radiator shop before the tank is painted and have it sealed there. They bake in this hard red sealer. Do not have a shop use that cream sealer. It never lasts, a lesson I have learned the hard way.

 

Horse, I agree with you, I have no idea who manufactured the tank I bought but I must say the quality was good. I had to add alittle metal to a blemish and soften some rough wields but that was it, the tank seal was performed by a shop that prepares tanks and radiators for cages mainly and they did bake it and it was red in color on completion for the cost of $75.00.

looking at your sig if that is your work then your painting ability is far beyond mine and I'm sure that paint job would cost far more than what I quoted in my last post on this thread. Also, Wild Horse Welcome to the forums.

 

very good point. plus 1 on your comment.

I finally just went with the 03 and older factory tanks that were 3.3 gallon i think. A lot less headache. I did the cream sealer, learned the hard way too. I also welded a junk 3.2 aftermarket numerous times.