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EVO: Oiling & Lubrication

Oil Tank, Lines and Routing


Oil Cap

Sub Documents

04+ Oil Cap

These can be stubborn to turn all the way. 1)
You can use a little silicone lube on the O-ring to help it turn without binding.
Also a leather glove for grip helps.
The threading tabs in the tank is molded in.

When installing the cap, it may stop at the first “bite” and not go any farther.
The plastic cap has a void underneath which gives no support.
If the cap is difficult to turn in, it may have been inserted in the wrong position.
First, try to remove it and make sure the tab orientation is correct before re-inserting it in the tank.
(else it won't turn all the way 'home' and seal off the tank).

The metal cap with the analog gauge moves better as it is solid underneath the rim.

The pics below show the positions of the cap during installation.:

This shows the broader of the 2 locating pegs in the
oil tank. 2)
This shows where the gauge is to start with. 3)
This shows the point of “first bite”. 4)This shows final location. 5)

Oil Tank

Tank Assembly per Year Model: 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37)

Year ModelTank Part #Dipstick
1986-199362475-83
All
62595-82A
All
1994-199662475-94
All
62595-82A
All
1997-1998
(99451-98A)
(99451-98)
62475-97
All
62634-84A
1998
(99451-98B)
62475-97A
All
62634-84A
199962475-97
All
62634-84A
2000-200362888-99
All (except 883R)
62634-84A
62951-02 - 883R
(black)
2004
(99451-04)
62888-04
All
63000-04
All
2004
(99451-04A)
62888-04B
All
63000-04B
All
200562888-04
All
63000-04
All
200662888-04
All
63000-04A
All
2007-200862888-04A
All
63000-04A
All (except 1200N)
62592-07 - 1200N
200962888-04A
All (except XR1200)
63000-04B
(except 883N/1200N/XR1200)
62592-07A - 883N/1200N
62888-08 - XR1200/XR1200X63008-08 - XR1200
2010-201362954-10
All (except XR1200/XR1200X)
63000-04B
(except 883N/1200N/XR1200/XR1200X)
62592-07A - 883N/1200N
62888-08A - XR1200/XR1200X63008-08 - XR1200/XR1200X
2014-201662500017
All
63000-04B - except 883N
62592-07A - 883N
2010-2013 Oil Tank (62954-10). (All models except XR1200/XR1200X) 38)
2010-2013 Oil Tank Cover. 39)


Oil Tank Pressure

See the full article, Oil Tank Pressure, in the REF section of the Sportsterpedia.
There should not be any noticeable pressure in the oil tank.

During normal operation;
With the tank cap / dipstick removed, tank pressure is vented to atmosphere from the top of the tank.
With the tank cap / dipstick installed, tank pressure is vented to the cam chest.

During shutdown;
The oil tank vent is connected to the cam chest and the cam chest is vented out the breather valve(s) in the cam cover or heads, respectively.
So if you have pressure in your oil tank and the vent to the cam chest is not blocked then the cam chest is also pressurized.
If the cam chest is holding pressure, then your breather valve(s) can not be venting properly.

Bottom line is that if the vent system is working properly, you shouldn't have excessive pressure build up in the oil tank. 40)


Fittings

At the Oil Tank

Be careful of the feed line on 94-03 models as the FSM diagram is mis-leading. 41)
Feed comes off the oil pump, under the engine, tees to the drain and up to tank.
The oil pump scavenger (return) is on the top of the oil pump at the front fitting.
On the tank, the feed is the big nipple (1/2“) on the back side. 42)
The return and vent lines are on the side of the tank facing the front of the bike.

Oil hose sizes: 43)
Feed hose: 1/2 ” at tank but changes to 3/8“ prior to pump.
Return hose: 3/8” from pump to tank.
Vent hose: 1/4“ from cam chest fitting to tank.

In the pics below; 44)

  • A is the drain
  • B is the feed
  • C is the vent
  • D is the return
94-03 Oil Tank Fittings 45) 2004-2009 Oil Tank Fittings 46)
2010-2013 Oil Tank Fittings
(All except XR1200X / XR1200R) 47)
2014 and Up Oil Tank Fittings 48)

At the Oil Pump

Fittings are labeled in the pics below.

86-90 oil pump fittings labeled. 49) 91 and Up oil pump fittings labeled 50)

At the Filter Pad

1986-1990

Oil filter connections. 51)


Check Your Hoses for Cracks

Periodically inspect all your oil hose connections for leaks or cracks / deteriation, especially before long rides.

52)

Drain Hose Locations per Year Model

86-93 models

There is a dedicated drain hose from the oil tank.
It comes out from the tank, makes a 90 degree bend to the rear and fits into a cylindrical plug welded to the underside of the battery tray.
(on the rear part of the tray, near where the batter strap is fastened) 53)
You should see the oil feed fitting on the bottom of the tank from the chain guard side.
The drain fitting is at the bottom of the sheet metal that forms the back of the tank.

Engine oil drain hose location on a 1989 XLH 1200 54)

94-03 models

There is a tee in the feed hose (near the frame on the left side of the bike) and the drain hose comes off that tee.
There is a steel plug welded to the rear of the frame under the swingarm.
The drain hose fits over that plug with a worm clamp to hold it there.

Oil feed and drain hose 55) Engine oil drain hose location on a 1998 1200S 56)

04-05 models

Sub Documents


There is a plastic clamp (33123-04) from the bottom frame rail that has a hollow stud for the oil tank drain hose to clamp onto.
The drain hose is anchored up inside the lower rails.

Drain clamp on 04-05 models 57) Wider view 58)

06-Up models

The MoCo eliminated the clamp itself and went to a solid plastic plug (33123-06). 59)
It has a small head that hose clamps into the drain hose and dangles between the bottom frame rails.
It just barely peeks below the frame rails. You can cut the hose a little shorter so it doesn't hang too far below the rails 60)

Drain plug location on an 06 883 61)

The plastic plug was updated (33123-06A).

09-up oil tank drain plug 62)

Drain Hose Mods


2) , 3) , 4) , 5)
6)
1986 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 67
7)
1986-1987 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 71
8)
1986-1988 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 79
9)
1986-1989 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 81
10)
1986-1990 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 81
11)
1991 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 73
12)
1991-1992 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 77
13)
1993 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 77
14)
1993-1994 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 79
15)
1995 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 75
16)
1995-1996 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 83
17)
1997 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (98-B) pg 81
18)
1998 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (98-B) pg 85
19)
1999 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (99-A) pg 91
20)
2000 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (00-A) pg 91
21)
2001 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (01-A) pg 93
22)
2002 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 93
23)
2003 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 93
24)
2004 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (-04) pg 89
25)
2004 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (-04A) pg 91
26)
2005 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 93
27)
2006 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 93
28)
2007 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 99
29)
2008 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 99
30)
2009 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 151
31)
2010 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 149
32)
2011 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 145
33)
2012 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 149
34)
2013 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 163
35)
2014 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 113
36)
2015 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 115
37)
2016 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 135
41)
Hippysmack
45)
photo by AnaChris of the XLFORUM, labeled by Hippysmack http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?postid=5214735
48)
photo by Revolver944 of the XLFORUM http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?p=5373531 labeled by Hippysmack
49) , 51) , 56)
photo by Hippysmack
54)
photo by RökkenRöll of the XLFORUM http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2069295
55)
photo by Matt Black of the XLFORUM http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2067584
61)
photos by southflasportster of the XLFORUM http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=463361&page=2
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