Swapping a gas tank on a 2014 Standard

[DaSwami_imp]

10-4, my local shop said it would be a snap, so I would have them do it, esp. on a bike under warranty.

I am good with nuts and bolts.....plastic / rubber bits I am ham-handed for sure!

[SportsterDoc]

Quoteave said this was very difficult in practice? Have you actually done this?


No offense to Dave- but he somehow thought using pliers and a screwdriver was the right thing to try on a plastic clip assembly holding pressurized fuel. So I wouldn't trust him to work on my bike.

And no offense to you- but given you are asking many questions about this and seem unsure / uneasy- I am going to go ahead and say don't do it yourself. Pay a shop to do it right.

Typically the people best suited to do repairs are the ones that are comfortable / confident enough that they don't need to ask. The people asking too many questions should probably know their limitations and leave stuff alone.

That is not to say that a person can't learn if they want to- but start on more basic mechanical, bolt in, bolt out type of stuff and if you see you are screwing up on that type of thing, stripping oil plugs or snapping shock bolts- stop doing repairs yourself.

1. Dave has admitted to having large hands, making access to tight spaces difficult.

2. He applied pressure to the clip as advised and the disconnect did not disconnect. He then sacrificed the part to continue...it did not throw his hands up in the air and quit.

3. I would trust Dave to work on my bike, but I am very hesitant to have a dealer work on it unless absolutely necessary. I don't even fully trust a dealer to do an oil change on my truck. When I have done so (3 free ones with purchase of vehicle), I pop the hood, check the oil level, confirm cap is snug and dipstick fully seated, before I leave the parking lot.

[Mscb1100_imp]

Not difficult at at all.
The procedures are in the manual and I’ll copy them if you’d like them.
Basically remove the rear tank attachment bolt, remove the left side cover and disconnect the power feed to the fuel pump. There maybe a step involving cycling the switch.
Then pull the black rubber plug away from the bluish green plug on the tank fitting coming off the fuel pump. Then squeeze the two plug handles and the fitting them come loose from the fuel supply line.
You ll need to pull the black vent line off the rear of the tank and ithe tank will lift right off.

Dave said this was very difficult in practice? Have you actually done this?

Dave said this was very difficult in practice? Have you actually done this? Several times, I have a 2014 standard, but like the red 13 tank, so I purchased one and installed a 2014 fuel pump in it.
I swap tanks and side covers frequently.
It takes less than 5 minutes to swap tanks.

[SportsterDoc]

Not difficult at at all.
The procedures are in the manual and I’ll copy them if you’d like them.
Basically remove the rear tank attachment bolt, remove the left side cover and disconnect the power feed to the fuel pump. There maybe a step involving cycling the switch.
Then pull the black rubber plug away from the bluish green plug on the tank fitting coming off the fuel pump. Then squeeze the two plug handles and the fitting them come loose from the fuel supply line.
You ll need to pull the black vent line off the rear of the tank and ithe tank will lift right off.

Dave said this was very difficult in practice? Have you actually done this?

Dave said this was very difficult in practice? Have you actually done this? Several times, I have a 2014 standard, but like the red 13 tank, so I purchased one and installed a 2014 fuel pump in it.
I swap tanks and side covers frequently.
It takes less than 5 minutes to swap tanks.

Practice makes perfect.
Many Sportster riders have incurred issues with the quick disconnect fitting:
Nicking o-ring = leak
Popping loose while riding, after thinking it was properly connected.
Sufficient reason to approach with care, caution and to augment the FSM with forum advice.

[Aussieflyer]

Quoteave said this was very difficult in practice? Have you actually done this?


No offense to Dave- but he somehow thought using pliers and a screwdriver was the right thing to try on a plastic clip assembly holding pressurized fuel. So I wouldn't trust him to work on my bike.

And no offense to you- but given you are asking many questions about this and seem unsure / uneasy- I am going to go ahead and say don't do it yourself. Pay a shop to do it right.

Typically the people best suited to do repairs are the ones that are comfortable / confident enough that they don't need to ask. The people asking too many questions should probably know their limitations and leave stuff alone.

That is not to say that a person can't learn if they want to- but start on more basic mechanical, bolt in, bolt out type of stuff and if you see you are screwing up on that type of thing, stripping oil plugs or snapping shock bolts- stop doing repairs yourself.

No offense to Dave- but he somehow thought using pliers and a screwdriver was the right thing to try on a plastic clip assembly holding pressurized fuel. So I wouldn't trust him to work on my bike.

And no offense to you- but given you are asking many questions about this and seem unsure / uneasy- I am going to go ahead and say don't do it yourself. Pay a shop to do it right.

Typically the people best suited to do repairs are the ones that are comfortable / confident enough that they don't need to ask. The people asking too many questions should probably know their limitations and leave stuff alone.

That is not to say that a person can't learn if they want to- but start on more basic mechanical, bolt in, bolt out type of stuff and if you see you are screwing up on that type of thing, stripping oil plugs or snapping shock bolts- stop doing repairs yourself.
Wooo there Josh, go easy mate ... we all have our preferred ways of learning. It ain't bad to ask lots of questions before having a go, and it ain't necessarily bad to have a go first then ask questions later - but tell me how you would prefer your doctor or surgeon to act if you presented a new challenge.

Keep on trying Dave, no one was born a master mechanic. Nothing better than the feeling of accomplishment when you get the job done right.

[PowerDubs_imp]

Quoteave said this was very difficult in practice? Have you actually done this?


No offense to Dave- but he somehow thought using pliers and a screwdriver was the right thing to try on a plastic clip assembly holding pressurized fuel. So I wouldn't trust him to work on my bike.

And no offense to you- but given you are asking many questions about this and seem unsure / uneasy- I am going to go ahead and say don't do it yourself. Pay a shop to do it right.

Typically the people best suited to do repairs are the ones that are comfortable / confident enough that they don't need to ask. The people asking too many questions should probably know their limitations and leave stuff alone.

That is not to say that a person can't learn if they want to- but start on more basic mechanical, bolt in, bolt out type of stuff and if you see you are screwing up on that type of thing, stripping oil plugs or snapping shock bolts- stop doing repairs yourself.

No offense to Dave- but he somehow thought using pliers and a screwdriver was the right thing to try on a plastic clip assembly holding pressurized fuel. So I wouldn't trust him to work on my bike.

And no offense to you- but given you are asking many questions about this and seem unsure / uneasy- I am going to go ahead and say don't do it yourself. Pay a shop to do it right.

Typically the people best suited to do repairs are the ones that are comfortable / confident enough that they don't need to ask. The people asking too many questions should probably know their limitations and leave stuff alone.

That is not to say that a person can't learn if they want to- but start on more basic mechanical, bolt in, bolt out type of stuff and if you see you are screwing up on that type of thing, stripping oil plugs or snapping shock bolts- stop doing repairs yourself.
Wooo there Josh, go easy mate ... we all have our preferred ways of learning. It ain't bad to ask lots of questions before having a go, and it ain't necessarily bad to have a go first then ask questions later - but tell me how you would prefer your doctor or surgeon to act if you presented a new challenge.

Keep on trying Dave, no one was born a master mechanic. Nothing better than the feeling of accomplishment when you get the job done right.

I think you misunderstood.

Again- no offense, just saying my honest thoughts after having disassembled, rebuilt, you name it all sorts of vehicles for the last 30+ years. I have a lift in my garage right below my feet as I type this, and typically own several bikes and cars at any given time.

Yes- no one was born a master mechanic and everyone learns. And learning on their own bike is their own prerogative. I've just seen enough over the years to make a judgement when to say- eh, maybe this isn't a good idea. For someone making several comments in various posts questioning a tank swap, well I could be wrong, but maybe he might want someone who has a little more experience next to him watching. Give him a beer, turn on some tunes. It's all good man. Doesn't hurt compared to him going in blind, alone, and screwing something up.

I wouldn't want someone to go at a modern plastic fuel connector release with a pair of pliers and a screw driver, nor would I want a doctor or surgeon that chooses to use the wrong tool or ask how-to questions before/after surgery, learns on the job or just wings it.

I mean- it isn't the end of the world, the worst that could happen is a gas leak, broken connector, pinched hose or I suppose a bent fuel level arm, or snap the head of the fuel pump plate. But shouldn't he try to avoid that if he can?

As I said- if he were comfortable enough he wouldn't be asking so many questions in more than 1 thread. So my advice is a more experienced fellow nearby, or a shop. If he is prepared for the possibility of something going wrong and accepts that, go for it! It is not a hard job, but it is also not without at least some risk of screw up.

[Aussieflyer]

Quoteave said this was very difficult in practice? Have you actually done this?


No offense to Dave- but he somehow thought using pliers and a screwdriver was the right thing to try on a plastic clip assembly holding pressurized fuel. So I wouldn't trust him to work on my bike.

And no offense to you- but given you are asking many questions about this and seem unsure / uneasy- I am going to go ahead and say don't do it yourself. Pay a shop to do it right.

Typically the people best suited to do repairs are the ones that are comfortable / confident enough that they don't need to ask. The people asking too many questions should probably know their limitations and leave stuff alone.

That is not to say that a person can't learn if they want to- but start on more basic mechanical, bolt in, bolt out type of stuff and if you see you are screwing up on that type of thing, stripping oil plugs or snapping shock bolts- stop doing repairs yourself.

No offense to Dave- but he somehow thought using pliers and a screwdriver was the right thing to try on a plastic clip assembly holding pressurized fuel. So I wouldn't trust him to work on my bike.

And no offense to you- but given you are asking many questions about this and seem unsure / uneasy- I am going to go ahead and say don't do it yourself. Pay a shop to do it right.

Typically the people best suited to do repairs are the ones that are comfortable / confident enough that they don't need to ask. The people asking too many questions should probably know their limitations and leave stuff alone.

That is not to say that a person can't learn if they want to- but start on more basic mechanical, bolt in, bolt out type of stuff and if you see you are screwing up on that type of thing, stripping oil plugs or snapping shock bolts- stop doing repairs yourself.
Wooo there Josh, go easy mate ... we all have our preferred ways of learning. It ain't bad to ask lots of questions before having a go, and it ain't necessarily bad to have a go first then ask questions later - but tell me how you would prefer your doctor or surgeon to act if you presented a new challenge.

Keep on trying Dave, no one was born a master mechanic. Nothing better than the feeling of accomplishment when you get the job done right.

I think you misunderstood.

Again- no offense, just saying my honest thoughts after having disassembled, rebuilt, you name it all sorts of vehicles for the last 30+ years. I have a lift in my garage right below my feet as I type this, and typically own several bikes and cars at any given time.

Yes- no one was born a master mechanic and everyone learns. And learning on their own bike is their own prerogative. I've just seen enough over the years to make a judgement when to say- eh, maybe this isn't a good idea. For someone making several comments in various posts questioning a tank swap, well I could be wrong, but maybe he might want someone who has a little more experience next to him watching. Give him a beer, turn on some tunes. It's all good man. Doesn't hurt compared to him going in blind, alone, and screwing something up.

I wouldn't want someone to go at a modern plastic fuel connector release with a pair of pliers and a screw driver, nor would I want a doctor or surgeon that chooses to use the wrong tool or ask how-to questions before/after surgery, learns on the job or just wings it.

I mean- it isn't the end of the world, the worst that could happen is a gas leak, broken connector, pinched hose or I suppose a bent fuel level arm, or snap the head of the fuel pump plate. But shouldn't he try to avoid that if he can?

As I said- if he were comfortable enough he wouldn't be asking so many questions in more than 1 thread. So my advice is a more experienced fellow nearby, or a shop. If he is prepared for the possibility of something going wrong and accepts that, go for it! It is not a hard job, but it is also not without at least some risk of screw up.

Hear hear!

[max]

Powerdubs i think i know what you mean and appreciate your comment, it is not my thread so i am going to be careful and i also share your sentiment about workshops ( the one and only job of a new rear tyre for my cb550 was done by the Honda dealer and resulted in a flat tyre because they had pinched the side of the inner tyre and the wheel was excentric because of some un-removed rust on the rim, extra cost; $240.- so yes, exept for some proven mechanics ), he was offered very good help but did not feel it necessary to ask.
Dave does work on stuff i don't even try, he is also very careful and plans ahead, he is also very honest and his questions made us all learn more than we would have otherwise done, including me.
And what he has accomplished has only been done by very few owners, it was a first for him and therefore i have quite a bit of respect for him, i did manage to get the coupling off and can say that it was a relief when it came undone, it is awkward.
There is always someone who can do better no matter what the task, in dave's case he did get the job done under his own restrictions, see how you get on after weeks of 13 hour workdays etc.

So i would cut him a fair bit of slack instead.

Max

.

[DaSwami_imp]

Sorry folks, I never intended for this thread to drift into this kind of territory. Thought it was a fairly simple question!

[Cormanus]

No-one can possibly foresee where a thread on this forum will go.