Doc Harley Talks: How To Avoid Rust In Your Gas Tank In Harley-Davidson Motorcycles 2008 and Earlier

Another great video Doc. Just an additional point, if you don't store your bike with the tank full, especially in winter, water will condenses in the tank. SInce water is heavier than fuel it settles in the lowest point - the cross over tube. This results in the metal fitting sitting in water, especially if the tank hasn't been drained in years, The use of a fuel stabilizer helps emulsify the water so it burns off, but draining the tank every couple of years is the best cure. It also allows inspection of the fittings..

Fuel lines on my panhead are steel . McMaster Carr has pinch type clamps ,purchase pinch clamps pilers to install clamps .

I've always used a razor blade carefully cut coolant lines and fuel lines so you don't have to twist the hose.

Had a 2011 Street Bob that the crossover line on the tank. Replaced the hose and put new harley stock clamps it when i repainted it a few years ago. Messed around and sold it shortly afterwards. Miss that little hot rod. She was 100lbs lighter than the Street Glide i have now.

Outstanding presentation Doc, this hits all brands. Have repaired numerous tanks, and have had some tanks to repair that you would actually laugh at. On a tank with rust all over the interior, I use an electrical system to remove the rust. Mix up water with about 2-4oz of washing soda per gallon. Fill the tank to the very top. Next, get a piece of old steel stock, I use what may be lying around as the sacrifice anode. Suspend the anode, insulated from the tank metal, I use a block of wood with a hole drilled in it, got a bunch of old short rebar pieces my first choice. Use a 12v battery with the Positive lead to the anode (think A+) and the tank, the cathode (think C-), sorry it makes it easy for me to remember. Suggest you take a trickle charger to the battery as it take s bit of time. After a couple of days the rust in the tank will be attached to the anode, looks like a red fuzzball. Now on the downside, if the tank has any pinholes that the rest had been sealing you will find them when you drain the tank. Have experimented with zink plating the inside of the tank, and it seems to work. Simply suspend a zink bar inside the tank with the tank Positive and the zink bar negative. Again takes a few days. Have thought of next using a hunk of copper wire after the zink to copper plate again copper + tank -. Sorry it started as a overactive mind and YOUTUBE videos. Kind of messy but it cleans like mad if you have the time. As they say, live better chemically!

Got a 2011 fatboy lo with the cross over pipe.. I discovered the pipe when I went to change the handlebars. (And yes forgot I was about to do a big job and had just filled it up) . Haha… I don’t know how those HD clamps worked so just used a hose clamp.. I love working on my own bike.. When I first got it, I looked at it and thought “I don’t know anything about this, anything I want done it will have to go to the dealer..” but a few months later And I was doing everything. Tires, handle bars, suspension adjustments, all the servicing.. Even built my own air bag lift table. Work on your own bikes, its fun. The bike has now done over 100, 000kms, (80,000km for me… (55k miles).. I have even changed my own belt. (Probably wrecked the belt due to having the belt to loose each tire change, haha)

Thanks doc! Taking the tank off my 2000 ultra classic (fuel injected) to replace rocker box gaskets and the spark plug wires, will for sure replace the tube and clamps, I had no idea. Thanks again

I often look your videos from germany. I ride a FLTH 2008 and now i have 67000 km on it. 🤠🤟

Excellent info Doc! Thank you 🙏

As always, great content Doc, I always try and run ethanol free fuel in my Street Glide Special, and my 1980 Super Glide, it's no compromise, always ethanol free for anything running a carb...lawnmower, weed whacked, chainsaw, etc....and when you rebuild a carb that has been run on Ethanol, you can easily see the gunk, & corrosion it creates, all for what, to increase profits while costing the consumer more...?

01 flht all stock 26,600mils. I'm doing it over replacing everything, the first thing I notice is the 5/16 rubber fuel lines, crossover, and petcock to carb were breaking down from the outside. handle it and your hands-fingers are covered in black rubber almost coal like stain. these are the original lines and pressure clamps. inside the tank is good as are the fule barbs, i got lucky.

Thanks to you we all are getting better at taking care of our bikes.

zawesome yip! I wouldn't even consider that as being a potential problem spot. I have an '05 Wide Glide(carb'd).

Thanks again Doc

Great tip Doc.

Great advice again Doc! Thanks

Great info Doc. Ill be checking my 2001 classic.

Thanks Doc.

Great tip Doc! I had a 05 FLHTC that had the crossover, and it never entered my mind to do that!! Traded the old girl in about a month ago, I miss her!!!!

Thank you Sir always a pleasure to watch your videos before work!