EVO: Oiling & Lubrication

Oil Tank, Lines and Routing


Oil Cap

Oil Tank Assembly Part Numbers

Sub Documents

Tank Assembly per Year Model: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 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)

YearModelTank Part #Oil CapBattery Tray
1983-1993All62475-8362595-82A66191-83
1982-1993All except XR-100062475-97A (98 tank)62634-84A66194-94A (97)
Notes: Retrofit oil tank kit with battery box, oil lines and fittings.
See the link above under sub documents (1982-1993 Sportster Retrofit Oil Tank Kit) for more information.
1994-1996All62475-9462595-82A66194-94
1997-1998All62475-97
62475-97A (2013)
62634-84A66194-94A (97)
66194-98 (98)
1999All62475-9762634-84A66194-98
2000-2003All (except 883R)62888-9962634-84A66194-98
883R62951-02 (black)
2004-2006All62888-04
62888-04B (10psi relief valve)
63000-04
63000-04A (2006)
66194-04
66194-04B (2006)
2007-2009All (except XR1200)62888-04A
62888-04B (10psi relief valve)
62954-10 (requires hose reroute)
63000-04A
63000-04B (2009)
66194-04C
07-08 1200N62592-07
09 883N/1200N62592-07A
XR1200/XR1200X62888-0863008-08
2010-2013All (except XR1200/XR1200X)62954-10 (10psi relief valve)63000-04B66194-04D
883N/1200N62592-07A
XR1200/XR1200X62888-08A63008-08
2014-2022All6250001763000-04B66000031
883N62592-07A

Oil Tank Interchangeability

  • These oil tanks will fit listed models without issue;
    • 2004-2009 models (except XR1200/XR1200X): 62888-04, 62888-04A, 62888-04B.
    • XR1200/XR1200X: 62888-08, 62888-08A.
    • 2014-2016 models: 62500017.
  • These tanks will fit listed models with alterations;
    • 2004-2009 models can use the 2010-2013 tank if hose routings are changed to suit. 33).

Oil Line Routing

  • 1986-1990 (all models):
    • Oil feed from the tank runs to the lower rear fitting of the oil pump (3/8“ hose and routes UNDER the starter).
      It then makes a soft bend down towards the ground in the area between the starter and the rear cylinder exhaust pushrod tube.
      (also that is the area where the seam is for the sprocket cover and the cam cover where they meet)
      The hose can be slipped behind these covers (at the junction of the two covers) without removing the covers.
      The hose then drops down to follow along the frame (look from underneath the bike) and over to the oil pump.
      Feed the hose starting at the oil pump, and then going along the frame tube, then up to the starter at the area (behind the covers).
      You should be able to feed that hose under the starter to the oil tank without having to remove the starter or any covers and without any kinks. 34)
    • Oil feed from the pump to the filter runs from the lower front (smaller) AN fitting to the outside threaded hole at the filter pad.
    • Oil feed from the filter to the pump is from the center hole at the filter pad to the upper (larger) AN fitting on the pump.
    • Oil return to the tank is on the upper front of the oil pump (3/8” hose fitting, 2 fittings together ending in hose barb).
    • Vent line from the oil tank is on the rear of the cam cover (1/4“ hose 90° fitting).
    • The primary / transmission is vented to atmosphere from the top of the transmission near the rear motor mount just in front of the solenoid (1/4” hose fitting).
      • The hose should run straight up and then loop back down (without kinks).
  • 1991-1993:
    • Oil feed from the tank runs to the lower rear fitting of the oil pump (3/8“ hose).
    • Oil feed from the pump to the filter runs from the lower front AN fitting on the pump to the (cam side) threaded hole at the filter pad.
      (from there, oil is routed into the engine internally)
    • Oil return to the tank is on the upper front of the oil pump (3/8” hose fitting).
    • Vent line from the oil tank is on the rear of the cam cover (1/4“ hose 90° fitting).
    • The primary / transmission is vented to atmosphere from the top of the transmission near the rear motor mount (3/8” hose straight fitting).
  • 1994-2003:
    • Oil feed hose from the tank doubles as a drain to a point.
      A short 1/2“ hose runs from the oil tank down the left side of the bike to a plastic 3-way 90° tee just above the lower left frame.
      The tee has (2) 1/2” and (1) 3/8“ nipples.
      A short 1/2” drain hose runs from the tee around the outside of the left rear tube to a steel plug welded on a bracket to the rear of the right frame tube.
      Then a longer 3/8“ hose runs from the tee, behind the motor and between the motor and the seat downtubes to the lower rear fitting of the oil pump. The hose rests above and is zip tied to the top of the right lower tube.
    • Oil feed from the pump to the filter runs from the lower front AN fitting on the pump to the (cam side) threaded hole at the filter pad.
      (from there, oil is routed into the engine internally)
    • Oil return to the tank is on the upper front of the oil pump (3/8” hose fitting).
    • Vent line from the oil tank is on the rear of the cam cover (1/4“ hose 90° fitting).
      • Both (return and vent) lines run thru a oil line clip (bracket) that screw onto the small rear stud of the starter.
        The clip is secured by a nylok nut. Both hoses are secured away from the moving sprocket with the clip installed.
    • Primary / transmission vent:
      • 1994-1999: The primary / trans is vented to atmosphere from the top of the transmission near the rear motor mount (vertical 3/8” hose straight fitting).
      • 2000-2003: The primary / trans is vented to atmosphere from a nipple fitting on top of the primary near the starter (horizontal 3/8“ hose straight fitting).

Simplified Oil Line Routing Drawings: 35)
Click on a drawing to enlarge:


1994-2003 Oil Return and Tank Vent Oil Lines, also Hose Clip (31532-94) 36) 37)
1994-2003 Oil Feed and Drain Lines 38)

Oil Lines

HD Part numbers for 1994-2003 Oil Line Hoses:
63564-94 Oil feed / drain hose from tank to 90° elbow, 1/2” I.D.
62494-94A 62494-94B 1/2“ plastic 90° elbow
63542-94A Oil feed/drain hose from 90° elbow to tee, 1/2” I.D.
63576-95 1“ plastic corrugated hose shield
62493-89 1/2” x 3/8“ x 1/2” plastic tee
63504-94 Oil drain hose from tee to block off plug behind rear tube, 1/2“ I.D.
63500-68 Oil feed hose from tee to oil pump, 3/8” I.D. x 5/8“ O.D. (25 foot length - cut to fit)
62631-91 Oil feed hose from oil pump to oil filter
62361-94 Oil return hose from oil pump to oil tank, 3/8” I.D.
63501-68A Vent hose, oil tank to cam chest, 1/4“ I.D. x 1/2” O.D. (25 foot length - cut to fit)

See this XLForum thread regarding 1994-2003 Oil Lines (replacement)
(http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2078814 Post#144)


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 via a hose connecting the two.

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

1983-1993

The vent is the right angle nipple fitting on top of the tank (1/4“ hose fitting).
The return is the upper right angle nipple on the back side (3/8” hose fitting).
The feed is the right angle nipple on the bottom of the tank (3/8“ hose fitting).
The drain is the bigger straight nipple on the back near the bottom of the tank (1/2” hose fitting).

41)

1994-2003

Be careful of the feed line on 94-03 models as the FSM diagram is mis-leading. 42)
Feed comes off the oil pump with a 3/8“ hose running under the engine to a 1/2” x 1/2“ x 3/8” tee, a 1/2“ hose to the drain and a 1/2” hose to the tank from the tee.

The vent is the upper right angle nipple fitting on the bottom of the tank (1/4“ hose fitting).
The return is the lower right angle nipple fitting on the bottom of the tank (3/8” hose fitting).
The feed and drain use the same hose and it's the larger upper straight nipple on the back side of the tank (1/2“ hose fitting).
The drain is connected to one side of the tee around to the steel plug nipple on the rear of the frame under the swingarm.

43)

2004-Up

2004-2009 Oil Tank Fittings 44) 2010-2013 Oil Tank Fittings
(All except XR1200X / XR1200R) 45)
2014 and Up Oil Tank Fittings 46)

At the Oil Pump

Fittings are labeled in the pics below.

86-90 oil pump fittings labeled. 47) 91 and Up oil pump fittings labeled 48)

At the Filter Pad

1986-1990

Oil filter connections. 49)


Check Your Hoses for Cracks

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

50)

Drain Hose Locations per Year Model

83-93 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 battery strap is fastened) 51)
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.

OEM oil drain hose on 1989 XLH 1200 52) Oil drain with 82-93 retro oil tank 53)

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.
You can use auto (fuel) hose from the local car parts store drain hose replacement.
If you cut it the right length, you can bend it without kinking it.
Kinking the hose will not change the flow or anything but may show up as a leak later as the hose ages.

Oil feed and drain hose 54) Engine oil drain hose location on a 1998 1200S 55)

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 56) Wider view 57)

06-Up models

The MoCo eliminated the clamp itself and went to a solid plastic plug (33123-06). 58)
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 59)

Drain plug location on an 06 883 60)

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

09-up oil tank drain plug 61)

Drain Hose Mods


1)
1986 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 67
2)
1986-1987 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 71
3)
1986-1988 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 79
4)
1986-1989 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 81
5)
1986-1990 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 81
6)
1991 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 73
7)
1991-1992 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 77
8)
1993 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 77
9)
1993-1994 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 79
10)
1995 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 75
11)
1995-1996 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 83
12)
1997 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (98-B) pg 81
13)
1998 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (98-B) pg 85
14)
1999 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (99-A) pg 91
15)
2000 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (00-A) pg 91
16)
2001 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (01-A) pg 93
17)
2002 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 93
18)
2003 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 93
19)
2004 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (-04) pg 89
20)
2004 HD Sportster Parts Catalog (-04A) pg 91
21)
2005 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 93
22)
2006 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 93
23)
2007 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 99
24)
2008 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 99
25)
2009 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 151
26)
2010 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 149
27)
2011 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 145
28)
2012 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 149
29)
2013 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 163
30)
2014 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 113
31)
2015 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 115
32)
2016 HD Sportster Parts Catalog pg 135
35)
drawings by Hippysmack
36)
Left photo courtesy of Ebay seller, Robison Motorcycles Link to Ebay Store
37)
Right photo by Hippysmack
38)
photos by Hippysmack
39)
photo courtesy of Boneyard Cycles in Melbourne, FL
42)
Hippysmack
47) , 49) , 55)
photo by Hippysmack
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