One Piece Tank for Softail Custom (FXSTC 1340).

[FXSTC Dave]

Hi there.

I know I started a similar thread late last year.

What I want to do is put a one piece 5 gallon fatbob tank on my 1998
Softail Custom, I've looked at Custom Chromes and several other custom
parts web sites but none of the tanks I saw matched what I was looking
for.

I had a look on Ebay a few weeks ago and III Rivers Harley were
selling a tank of a 2003 FXST Softail and to my surprise it was a 1 piece
tank !

How long have HD been using 1 piece tanks I thought they were still
using twin tanks thus the need for the tank cover down the middle ?

My softail has twin tanks and a thin rod of metal (threaded at the top)
coming up from the top rail of the frame batween the tanks and goes
through the console and holds it down onto the tanks by a dome headed
nut.

Now to my questions; What year did Harley start making 1 piece tanks ?
and if I bent down or cut off the thin metal rod could one be fitted
to my softail.

Any advise and info would be appreciated.

FXSTC Dave.

[robbiemac]

Dave, from memory, i think the rear mount is different on the one peice tanks, the two peice tanks have mountings under the tank dash area as well, i seem to remember the turn signal module lives between the two halves of your tank so that would have to be moved if you wanted to fit a one peice. Not too sure about this. I expect someone will give you the definitive answer but i do not think it's a bolt on job. Dont go bending stuff or cutting it just yet.

[Ming the Merciless]

Softail tanks went one-piece when the Twinkie came along in 2000 MY. The centre panel is still used because of a) the traditional look and b) to hide a bloody big weld down the centre line. There is a heavy-duty rear lug on the new tank which would require frame mods to add a mounting point, so it is a question of how far you are prepared to go and whether it is worth the expense.

[Strawhead]

Dave,

why do you want a one piece tank?

Custom Chrome do some fantastic two piece ones. have a six gallon on my 97 softail at the moment and am really happy, stretches nicely either side of the seat. very neat and gives me an extra few miles, but does have the traditional leather bit down the middle.

Andy

[Phil]

Originally Posted by Ming the Merciless

Softail tanks went one-piece when the Twinkie came along in 2000 MY. The centre panel is still used because of a) the traditional look and b) to hide a bloody big weld down the centre line. There is a heavy-duty rear lug on the new tank which would require frame mods to add a mounting point, so it is a question of how far you are prepared to go and whether it is worth the expense.

That is all exactly right, you would also have to get rid of your dash & ignition switch, rewire and/or replace it with the new type.
the old mount would have to be removed from the frame.
A big job.

[FXSTC Dave]

Hi Everyone.

Thanks for the replies.

My idea since before I even got my FXSTC was to change the front and rear mudguards (what ever colour the bike was) and also fit a 1 piece tank as I wanted to have the brightest red I could find and have a design on the tank but the 2 piece tanks won't allow this.

Another idea now would be to have a 1 piece tank made for my bike so that I can still use the original console.
This would use the original front and rear mounts and fit around the turn signal module and anything else there so all that would change is to bend down the bar that currently bolts the console down.

Again any advise and info would be gratefully recieved, especially about any good tank builders.

FXSTC Dave.