DOC HARLEY: FUEL TANK REMOVAL & THE PURGE

Doc Harley from the Service Clinic at Low Country Harley-Davidson to help you with the health of your motorcycle! This week he answers Adrian's question about the process of removing a fuel tank and explains "the purge."

Doc Harley is a motorcycle technician at Low Country Harley-Davidson with over thirty years working on motorcycles. Over the years at the dealership he has worked on Harley-Davidson, Buell, and Triumph motorcycles with a few other brands here and there from trade-ins. There are thousands of how-to videos out on YouTube and other websites across the world. Doc’s goal is to help solve problems that people run into when using their service manual, share insights only found as a certified Harley® technician, and some of the tips he’s picked up over the years.

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Looking to meet Doc and the other members of the LCHD team? Visit us at:
Low Country Harley-Davidson
4707 Dorchester Road
Charleston, SC 29405

[staffordguitar]

Hello Doc,

Truly amazed!

Having viewed your latest video I am speechless over the professionalism, the dedication to your work, the support, and true kindness you and your team have shown towards my quest for an answer to my problem.

In all my years I have never received such a quick response and support from any person/company; you do not know me, have never met me and we do not even live in the same country yet you have gone out of your way to produce this video detailing the information I was in need of and have done so in just one week from my original email.

Doc you are special, a true Gentleman.

Should I ever find myself able to visit Charleston I will definitely look you up though my 2019 Heritage will have to remain at home in England.

Once again my thanks for everything.

Best Wishes
Adrian

[blairakana]

I thought he was going to show us what is the entire process of removing the tank. His title says tank removal and purge. I guess he forgot that his title said tank removal!

[jontnoneya]

Great video - thank you for this.
Do you have any suggestions for getting my Harley restarted? It's a 2008 Crossbones (FLSTSB) and it's been sitting for going on 8 years (only about 7, 500 miles total on it), hasn't been run at all in those years. I'm already going to do the 3 hole oil changes and was just going to drain the tank with a pump and then refill it. Should I do more? If so, do you have any suggestions or are there videos on what all I need to do to make sure I don't cause damage?? I understand if it may not run perfectly and I have to address issues later. What I want to avoid is really damaging something by starting it when it could be avoided by a little work....maybe a lot of work. Thanks.

[mikeleger]

Great video as usual Doc! Planning to remove mine to polish the engine and change plugs. This helps a lot 🫡

[jobeta]

Excelent video and clear information. Thanks Doc and Low Country

[hokaheyrider]

My current (03) is my first ever fuel injected bike and a few days ago, I performed a fuel filter, check valve and pressure regulator R&R.
If not for having my Factory Service Manual, I'd probably still be looking for the fuel pump fuse and figuring out how to remove the holder without destroying it!
Buy the FSM and your life will become much, much easier regarding doing any of your own service work.

[davidv.]

Thanks for the good advice Doc, I'm just curious when you disconnect the fuel pump and you crank the motor over will that trip a code ?? Also would I have to purge my 2014 Dyna ??

[MM-hcnr]

hey sir, bike sat for 2yrs while I was overseas. '19 streetbob, fuel went bad, besides vacuuming out the tank what about in the lines? or should I just pour fresh gas n give it a go? thanks for the assist. awesome vids.

[awedihdaira]

Doc, thanks Soo much for the lesson sir ! I learned Soo much from your videos 🙏

[steveledbetter]

I wish you gave a little more detail on the removal I have a short on my bike it says lo volt ? The gas pump light is on even when it’s full I had Harley check it once they said it was a wire and they fixed it for a little while but now it’s back . Any thoughts what it could be?

[manfredotrondle]

Thx. Doc...this was a very good explanation..lessons learned

[peterhickey]

Hey Doc,
I love following your videos. Very informative.
You have asked for topic suggestions.
I hear from various people about the issue of bikes with the tendency to pull to one side when you take your hands off the bars. I have a 2017 Street Glide Special and it does it a bit. This is not related to camber on the road. I even asked at a local HD dealer. Their answer was "They all do that" which I don't believe as I have ridden bikes that don't.
I know on the touring models, of at least recent years, the back axle snail adjusters cannot be adjusted independently. The loose one is locked to the axle by the flatside machined in the axle. So the rear wheel cannot be adjusted left to right as it can be on most H-D and other brands of motorcycle.
I have heard people say it is because the motor is not vertical. Therefore the rear wheel is not vertical due to the swing arm being attached to the power train and an adjustable front stabiliser is needed.


Please explain the issue, how to check that all is aligned and how to fix if not.


Thanks, Peter

[maskgameing]

Thank you doc I’m trying to restore my dad old
Motor cycle and the gas tank had a hole in it I’m hoping I can get my dads cycles restore soon

[DaMooseKnuckle]

Doc, Zero here from Long Beach California.
Got a question about the Oil Transfer to Primary. Dealer service dept says 1 out of 100 has this problem, so the fix is the Vent kit in the primary. Some bikes have different stages of miles when they catch this problem, especially when it’s the first 1K service. Question....Is it a good idea to get this done through my warranty or do I have to have this problem to get it changed. It seems like this is
an on going problem for M8?

[paulhorvath]

Hi Doc 👋 Could you now essentially remove both the spark plugs under the tank ?

[HITMXXN]

This video helps and leads me to a question. I have a 2022 Street Bob, I would like to upgrade it to a larger gas tank like a 5 gallon. Would a Low Rider S Gast tank work since its also a softtail build? I need help. What tank do I need to order through HD in order to get a 5 gallon tank on my bike??

[jamessharpe]

Hey doc harley I have a 2020 softail standard which wire is the ignition wire under the seat? I'm trying to connect a yellow wire for a dash camera system

[coltonmacgregor]

After doing a tabk removal and puttin my tank back on my slim and my fuel back into the tank the bike wont start. It just turns over. What is the process of gettin the bike to run?

[lanebyron]

Does the disconnect fitting have an o ring? We removed the tank and put it back on the disconnect line leaks at the fitting. Wondering if the o ring came out. Or do we need a new fitting on the tank? Thanks

[jordantserghanos]

Good video as usual. May I ask what would be the difference between the method you posted to disabling the fuel pump and just unplugging the fuse that powers the fuel pump and then cycling it?
Wouldn't that have the same effect as reaching under the tank and disconnecting the connector?
Is there a reason just removing the fuse for the fuel pump wouldn't work?