I just done oil change on my FXST softail and thought I would try also evacuate the old oil from the sump via the return line. I had read that some people do this as it gets another liter of old oil out which would otherwise mix with the fresh new oil...anyway...I had read this is a good idea on the internet 

Pretty straight forward removing the oil return line and getting the old oil out but now I am having a bastard of a time trying to get the return line reconnected to the oil tank. WTF!

There is bugger all room and I do not seem to be able to bend the line enough to make it 'connect' inside the oil tank.

I am thinking will probably have to remove the whole exhaust from rear cyclinder to get enough clearance to do this...which will trun a 15 min job into a whole afternoon gone.

Has anyone encountered this problem before and is there maybe something else I should try first?

Would appreciate your suggestions!

Renegade

 

 

Slide the little cover up the oil line a bit,

it looks like it is fouling on the tank, stopping the line from going in.

Haha, I wish it was that easy. It only looks to be touching on the photo but there is space between the cover and tank.

The problem is the exhaust header does not give me enough 'wriggle room' to get the end of the oil line in at the correct angle for the entry hole of the oil tank.

I was able to yank it out but now getting it back in is turning out to be a real bitch.

Yeah, mine can be a challenge at times,

but as long as the cover is slid up and the o'rings not disturbed it will go back in,

patience and persistence will get you home.

Wise words and proved true!

Thank you Gnoo for your help.

Hi all...Did you use the proper tool to pull the oil line out??????????????

i wouldn't be pulling off da return line , just keep da engine clean by changing just da oil tank oil @ 2,500 klm's then da filter every 2nd time , thats only a couple of ltrs or so it wont hurt da bank acc

I've also just discovered the 'trick' of pulling the return line off, running the engine till good oil comes out, then replacing the filter and putting it all back together.

I think it's great idea, sure does get all the old oil out, but then my return line is flexible hose (on an old evo).....

Getting the return oil line out is easy with the tool. It's called a fuel line disconnect tool and is only a few bucks from Repco/Supacheap.

Size you need is 3/8.

Getting it back in was a lot more difficult than I expected.

Whilst I got a fair bit of old oil out, I am not sure it is worth the hassle. I will probably just stick to the Harley recommended oil change intervals from now on.

On the modern TC, oil flow is: From tank > pump > oil filter > engine > sump > return.

If you wanted to try scavenging on your softail:
1. Drain Oil Tank
2. Replace Filter (with a bit of new oil in)
3. Fill up Oil Tank with new oil to about filler neck
4. Remove Return line and attach (firmly) clear PVC hose routing into a catch container.
5. Start engine and let idle whilst old/dirty oil spits out of hose.
6. Stop engine
7. Replace Return Line
8. Fill up Oil Tank to correct level

I scavenge on all changes and believe it's a good thing to do and it's a piece of piss after done once.

Had problems getting mine in the first time i changed as previous owner had replaced O ring but not taken old ones out.. After a bit of frustration ended up finding 2 or 3 old O rings in tank where lines go in preventing it from going in.

Unlikely for you but worth a look.

Done this heaps of times on many different softails and never had any issue fitting the oil return line
Its a must do on every oil change I say

on EVO's 1999 & earier you can leave off da oil filter & run da motor untill clean oil cum's out because da filter is on da scavenge side , T.Cam 1999 & later da filter is inbetween da feed pump & engine  have to leave it on 

That's where one of these come in handy, great little item to have in the shed.

http://roguechopper.com

I got a Scavenger from Rogue Chopper for my Fatboy. Best thing out, no hassles at all with oil line. Just got to make sure you clamp the clear hose on the oil line when getting the old stuff out. Thought I would be smart and just hold it while the old shit came out, that was a bad idea. There was a bit of cleaning to be done after me not being so smart. But you learn from your mistakes

Hi Mate,

Sorry, but I can't comment on the roguechoppers kit as I have never used it myself and don't know much about it.

The oil routing is different for the various engine models and maybe even within the TwinCam range.

The Service Manual for my 2013 TC103B has 5 pages on oil routing and I don't think there would be much old oil going into the new filter using this method.

Best thing is to read the Service Manual for your specific bike and then decide for yourself.

Best of luck