Oil Tanks and return oil lines

[53modelkhd]

Does any one know the difference between the oil tanks HD part #'s 62507-52 , 52A, 56A, 62A and 62B ? Especially interested in the difference between the K and KH tank. What is the change that made the 63507-52 oil return line different that 63507-52A? Note that the 55KH line is different than the 56 KHK one. What is the change? Thanks in advance for your time addressing these questions.

[hennesse]

Does any one know the difference between the oil tanks HD part #'s 62507-52 , 52A, 56A, 62A and 62B ? Especially interested in the difference between the K and KH tank. What is the change that made the 63507-52 oil return line different that 63507-52A? Note that the 55KH line is different than the 56 KHK one. What is the change? Thanks in advance for your time addressing these questions.

There's a -56 and a -62 oil tank also! JerryR and I discussed this briefly in Davenport, but we failed to ignite a knock-down, drag-out, pounding shoe on the table discussion. So let's get it started, and see if we can figure this stuff out.

The parts books I have show these oil tanks:
1954 PB shows -52A used on 52-54
1956 PB shows -52A used on 52-55; -56 used on 56 KH
1957 PB shows -52A used on 52-55; -56A used on 56 KH and 57 XL
1959 PB shows -52A used on 52-55; -56A used on 56 KH and 57-59 XL,XLH
1963 PB shows -52A used on 52-55; -56A used on 56 KH and 57-E62 XL,XLH; -62 used on L62-63
1965 PB shows -52A used on 52-55; -56A used on 56 KH and 57-E62 XL,XLH; -62A used on L62-64 XLH; -62B used on 65 XLH

So the -56 was a one-year only used on 56 KH. The -62 was used on L62-63 XLH, and maybe 64 XLH also.

Two different 62507-xx Oil Tanks

oiltanks.jpg (127.07 KiB) Viewed 18220 times

The reference tank, which I think is a -52, has the oil suction line outlet (A) exiting straight downward. The vent tube (B) is about 1 inch long, not including the screw-in fitting. The recessed area at the bottom of the tank (C) is straight - it follows the line of the two lower mounting bolts. The mystery tank is different in all three places - A is turned about 45 degrees forward; B is much shorter; C has additional recessed area at the rear - the recess makes a 45 degree bend.

Why these differences? When did they occur? Are there more differences?

I'll start the discussion by speculating about A. The 1952-1953 oil suction line has to make a 90 degree bend. This line is rubber with steel wire reinforcement, but still, it's a problem waiting to happen. The engine side fitting 63539-52 is bent 90 degrees and points toward the rear. The tank side fitting 63533-52 is straight, and points down. So the rubber line has to make a 90 degree bend.

The 1954 Parts book shows that the engine side fitting changed to the 45 degree 63359-54 during 1954. When? There's no indication. I suspect that it was pretty early, and it happened at the same time that the outlet on the oil tank turned 45 degrees (change in oil tank from -52 to -52A). The difference between the 63517-52 and 63517-54 suction lines is simply that the -54 is shorter, since it doesn't have to make a 90 degree bend.

So my theory is (1) the reference tank is a -52; (2) the -52 was used in 52-53 and early 1954; (c) the -52A is the same except the outlet A is turned 45 degrees.

Now who's going to step up and propose a theory about what happened in 1956 to require the -56 oil tank, and what does the -56 look like?

[55khkjoe]

I always thought they added the flat bottom brace in 56 like on the mystery tank and the mid 54-55 just had the side brace with holes in it. Just a thought.

[sean]

does the neg side battery bracket mount to the center of that hole in the bracket shown?i seem to have interfearence with the neg terminal hitting it.

[JerrryR]

Hi All,
Here is what I think I know, not necessarily what is correct. I will have to do this in two or three post to include all the pictures.
The first picture is of a tank I have marked with a 52. I believe this tank was used for all of 52, 53 and early 54. I believe this tank is PN 62507-52 and it was used with the 90 degree oil line elbow on the right crankcase. the parts book calls for this elbow for 52, 53-model K & KH, early 54-KH. You'll notice the oil tank feed line faces straight down so it used a 90 degree fitting on the crankcase. It also is straight across the "bottom step" and does not angle up like the 56 and newer tanks.

52, 53 & Early 54K Model Oil Tank. Cropped-.jpg (94.3 KiB) Viewed 18187 times

The next two pictures are of what I believe to be the PN 62507-52A. I believe it was used with the latter 54 tanks when the went to the 45 degree oil line elbow on the right crankcase and used it for all of 55. I have it marked with a 55. You'll notice the oil feed line fitting now angle away from straight down like the earlier tank does. It also is straight across the bottom step.

Latter 54 & All of 55 K Model-.jpg (149.08 KiB) Viewed 18187 times

I will show the 56 tank in the next post.
JerryR

[JerrryR]

The 56 tank, PN 62507-56 still has the oil feed line at an angle like the latter 54 & 55 tank. It protrudes parallel to the tank surface unlike the 57 tank. You'll notice the "step" is no longer straight across but now angles upward at the end. I believe it to be a one year only tank.

56 K Model Tank.jpg (223.5 KiB) Viewed 18187 times

56 K Model Tank. Side View.jpg (183.16 KiB) Viewed 18187 times

I'll show the 57 tank in the next post.
JerryR

[JerrryR]

The 57 oil tank, PN 62507-56A, shows up in the 57 parts book for the 56K and the 57XL. I don't know if it was a running change in 56 or not. It would not surprise me if it was a running change since the difference is minor and I believe has to do with clearances? The only difference that you will see between the 56 and the 57 tanks is that the oil feed fitting now angles ever so slightly outward from the tank in 57.

57 Oil Tank.jpg (173.58 KiB) Viewed 18187 times

57 Oil Tank.Side View.jpg (166.91 KiB) Viewed 18187 times

I can use some help with the last 2 tanks that will be in my final post.
JerryR

[JerrryR]

The last two tanks I have to show I need help with. I believe they were used after the 57 style tank. I don't know when the tanks changed from the 57 style. I believe it was in 61 or 62 but I can't tell from the parts book. I think there were two between the 57 tank and the 67 tank. I think the first one shown, "unknown 1" probably followed the 57 tank because its return line fitting still faces the same direction as the 57 tank whereas the "unknown 2" tank faces toward the back of the tank. Also notice both of the feed line fittings are different then the 57 tank. I could use any help you can provide to ID these two tanks. Please remember that what I have laid out in these 4 post is what I think and not necessarily correct. Feel free to beat me up about them.

Unknown Oil Tank 1.jpg (353.58 KiB) Viewed 18187 times

Unknown Oil Tank 2.jpg (368.88 KiB) Viewed 18187 times

Have a great night.
JerryR

[hennesse]

Jerry,

I'm cogitating over your oil tank photos, and preparing a new "Technical" article. One thing I noticed is that the -52 tank (labelled 52) and -52A (labelled 55) tanks have the return line outlet (Feature #2) at about 10:30 o'clock - sitting on the bike looking down at the oil filler cap. The -56 (labelled 56) and -56A (labelled 57) appear to have the outlet at about 9:00 o'clock. This would explain why the return line changed from 63507-52 (1952 to 1955) to 63507-56 in 1956.

The 63507-56 return line was replaced by -56A in 1957. The 1957 Parts Book lists the -56A as fitting 56 KH and 1957 Sportster. Just a guess that this was a minor "adjustment" in bends for the Sportster. The -56A continued in use through 1964.

Question #1 - how long are the return line outlet tubes on the -56 and -56A tanks? (Without the fitting).

Question #B - WHY did the return line outlet move from 10:30 to 9:00 in 1956? Must have interfered with something.

Question #iii - WHY was the step in the oil tank changed on the -56 ? It might have interfered with the chainguard, but the chainguard was shortened in 1956, I'm guessing, to prevent interference with the oil tank. Was this the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing? Or was this change for another reason?

Inquiring minds want to know...

Dave

[Yard Dog]

Sean,
Yes, the battery bracket mounts to the oil tank bracket shown. If your terminal hits it ,something is not kosher. The parts book illustration is misleading as it seems to show the battery installed with neg right/ pos left . I tried running my 57 that way and was having problems with the positive shorting against the tool box. I looked at the photos of the museum 57 and they show the neg on the left. Either way , check alignment of all components. Any short in that area could get exciting real fast.
Jack