The Oil Tank and Pump Tub Sportster Garage

The oil tank and pump tub

A plastic tub full of Iron Sportster oil bags andoil pumps.

I used to keep my IronSportster parts inbookpack movingboxes. I would have touse duct tape toreinforce them. Theboxes still came apartand dirt got in and oilleaked out.

I was at an officesupply store likeStaples when I sawthese big tubs. Theseolder ones I have are alittle wimpy. I would notstack them more thantwo high.

Since then I have foundsome really strong tubsat Office Max. I stackedthose eight-high anddid not have themcollapse, a handy thingwhen moving acrossthe country. I boughtthem to help with themove, but I will nevergo back to cardboardboxes for Harley parts.

The oil tub is one of the lighter tubs on the Gorrlla rackshelving. Here you can see the two kidney style oil bags aswell as an XLCH style "lunchbox" oil tank. Also an early coilcover. The bottom of the tub has oil pumps and fittings andfilter mounts.

The great thing about using plastic tubs is that they keep anyoil drips contained. Better yet, the keep dust and dirt out ofthe oil bags. If you had a flood this tub might float away, butit would stay dry until the level went over the top.

The same theory applies with teh plastic bags. They keepstuff clean and rust-free until you need it or want to sell it oneBay. or trade with a pal.

file:///C:/Archive/Stage/Open-Sport_stage/Gara... Open-Sport.org The oil tank and pump tub - Sportster garage

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I mentioned these plastic tubs full of IronSportster part. I get them at the officesupply store. The oil tub is full of oil tanks,oil pumps, fittings, and other oil-relatedparts.

I also have a rack full of smaller, strongertubs for the heavier stuff.

Here is the tub contents. Note that I hadtwo K-model oil tanks just plopped on top.Those will go into the tub now.

Here are those two K-model oil tanks, andthe coil cover that I found in a barn inHalf-Moon Bay. This is all high-dollar stuff.The coil cover is worth about 500 bucksalone. I will be putting it on my 1952K-model.

Here is the backsides of the K-model oiltanks. The fact that they have threadedfittings for all the oil lines makes them veryearly production. I love to note the minordifferences in the mounting brackets andother features on the tanks.


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Here are two "lunchbox" oil bags from the1970s. Note one is patched up withbrazing. That can really backfire-- thebrass gets into the steel and the tank willcrack for eternity. Kenny Puccio tells methat modern thinking is to weld the leaks.Fix the steel with steel. The reason for thebrazing will soon be obvious.

The brazed tank I have modified to mountan oil filter. This is a pretty high-zootmodification. There is a pipe also brazedon the inside to feed the filter from theexisting feed hole. I can't remember if I ranthis one or if it just leaked as I keptchasing cracks with brazing rod. Don'tlaugh, I run a similar mod on my 1977 andit has worked for years. I am pretty surethat one is brazed up as well.I think Iwanted a chrome one on the '77. This onemight work fine, I will test it for leaks.

The strange thing about the kick-start-onlylunchbox oil bag is all the different offsetsthey used over the years. Here you cansee the huge difference in the mountinghole locations. Maybe with all my brothersand sisters helping, we can figure out whattanks went on what years.

Here is a crappy pic of the k-model oilfeed line. The tank had the fittings on it, sothat is what you look for in these earlytanks. The later model tank will fit, but nothave the fittings on the tank or motor.


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I also came across an olive-drab tankmount. I assume it is for some militarySportster. It is a little different from theK-model part. I will record this in the BOMsection one day, before I sell this stuff offon eBay.

With all those different lunchbox mountinglocations, there are bunch of differentbrackets.

Here is the underside of the coil cover. Noreason for it to be in the oil bag tub, otherthan it looks a little like a oil tank. This oneis destined for my 1952 K-model..

Most kick-start Iron Sportsters don't havean oil filter. I have to think the Harleyengineers thought the weight was socritical or that they would leak so much wecould get by without a filter. Here are twoafter-market filter setups, or maybe theframe-rail one is a factory setup, not sure.The funky plate replaces the motor mountand you run long hoses to the filter. This iswhy I hacked that lunchbox oil bag, lesshoses and fittings are less places to leak.

Here are all the dipsticks, oil-pressureswitches, and small stuff in the oil tub.


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Ha! The little can with a fitting is to fill upthe front forks with oil in the old 1960sforks. I put it in the toolbox. I thought thelittle filters were for my 1996 that I gave tomy buddy Doug when I left California.Turns out they are for my 1992 Accord,and it is due for an oil change since Ishipped it to Florida.

Little things can be valuable, here aresome oil pump gears for pre-1977Sportsters. Note the spring at bottom forealry model check ball setups. I am tryingto keep my 1962 from sumping.

Here is a pre-1977 pump, with the wideslot so it is for 1000cc bikes after 1972.Best thing was the pump had the springand ball bearing so that I might be able tokeep my 1962 from sumping when it sitsfor a month.

Here is a 1977-and-later pump, with thegerotors missing, since I gave them toDuncan Keller who had a hot job.

Here is another 1977-and-later pump, sillglommed together with gradoo. I will takeit apart, check it out, and put it on eBay,now that I know that I have it.


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Here is a big-bike pump with largergerotors. My plan is to make a housingthat holds this set of gerotors where thegenerator mounts to the case. Then I canscavenge the motor there, and keep anegative pressure in the crankcase likethere should be.

Baggies are your friend. Here are all thedipsticks. I see a screw-in cap for theSudco aluminum oil bag I run on my 1979.I dropped my bikes a few times andnoticed those press-in dipsticks pop outand oil goes all over the street. So then Ibought freeze plug rubber plugs for carsand screw the things in so they never popout. I replace the nut with a wingnut, Theplug worked well when I came off my 1996at 60mph in 2013.

Here is a close-up of those oil filters. Yeah,Honda. I guess when the movers came Ijust tossed them into my Harley stash. Iput them back on the car shelf.

So here is the oil tank and pump tubcleaned up and reorganized. I put somedistinctive stuff up front so I can tell whattub this is through the milky plastic. Bestyet, I can just look at this post to remindme what I have.


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This gorgeous baby was in the spareroom, so I am adding it to the oil tub. It is arestored horseshoe-style Sportster oil tankused on XLCH models. There are somepart numbers for this tank with a -52 suffix,so I suspect it was created for the racingK-Models, the overhead-valve Sportstercame out in 1957.

Another view of the horseshoe oil bag. Iintend this to replace the chrome one onmy 1962 Sporty.


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The Oil Tank and Pump Tub Sportster Garage