Restore   Chapter 69   Gas Tanks ←  Up  →     

Gas Tanks

There are two basic gas tanks - one with the ignition switch and one without the switch. But that's not quite the whole story.

The front and rear mounting tabs were prone to breakage. The factory addressed this problem by changing the design of the tabs and the way the tabs were welded to the tank. But not all at once.

Around the start of the 1950 model year, Harley started welding the front mounting tabs to the outside of the tank. Later, they extended the rear mounting tabs up into the tunnel. In the chart below, we give the dates of "early-1950" and "mid-1950", but this is our best guess so far.

These modifications proved successful. The Hummer (and 1960's models) didn't have a battery, so the provision for the key switch and wiring hole were removed. Otherwise, the tanks were the same. For the 1966 Bobcat, a longer filler neck and a mounting strap for the fiberglass body were added.

The shape and size of this tank is an aesthetic marvel. Sixty years later, the Sportster's classic good looks traces its heritage back to the gas tank of the humble Model 125.

Year Tank
Tank #1
1948-1949 Model 125
The "early" tank.
Key Switch, front mounting tabs welded inside the tunnel, no exterior reinforcements, short rear mounting tabs.
Tank #2
early-1950 Model  125
The "transition" tank.
Key switch, front mounting tabs have exterior reinfoircements, short rear mouting tabs.
Tank #3
mid-1950 - 1952 Model 125
1953-1959 Model 165
The "late" tank.
Key switch, front mounting tabs have exterior reinfoircements, long rear mouting tabs
Tank #4
1955-1959 Hummer
all 1960-1965 models
The "Hummer" tank.
No key switch; front mounting tabs have exterior reinfoircements, long rear mouting tabs
Tank #5
1966 Bobcat
The "Bobcat" tank.
No key switch; front mounting tabs have exterior reinfoircements, long rear mouting tabs
Extended fuel filler inlet.

And then there's the Spare Parts catalogs. The 1949 catalog (Dec 1, 1948) illustration shows the tank with the external front mounting tabs. The 61007-47 part number is used through the 1954 catalog. The 1955 catalog mysteriously lists "61000-47 (replaced by 61000-47A)" as it simultaneously introduces the 61000-55 (keyless) tank used on the Hummer.


  Last updated: March 24, 2011 ←  Up  →