You may want to check a little closer. I don't recall my Sportster having a tank cover. Just a painted tank.

 

The fender can be removed AFTER the rear tire has been removed. Then you just have to remove the fender bolts. I know the 2004 and up have a oil bag cover, but I'm with Alan S ,I don't remember the 2003 and down having a removable cover. Maybe an older Sporty owner can chime in.

 

There is a CHROME cover available...otherwise its the black or painted tank. The cover has a single bolt holding it on.

Watch your fingers when you remove the fender. -2$en#e-


http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YToAAOSwiYFXEsRS/s-l500.jpg

 

If it's just a cover, no it pops off. If there's no cover (there wouldn't be one stock) then you'd have to pull the whole tank and of course that would mean draining it.

To see if it's a cover, pull the seat and look for 2 metal "tabs" on the top where the cover is clipped onto the tank. You should also be able to see a little gap between the cover and the tank, if those aren't there then you don't have a cover.

 

You dont need to remove the wheel to remove the fender. There is one bolt under the seat, two small bolts in front of the shocks, and the top shock bolts. The fender trim pieces have two bolts that might have to be removed. Just did that on my '91 and it isnt difficult. I dont have a cover on my oil tank, but i have seen some that snap in place where the actual tank mounts to the frame. If you have to take the oil tank off it is a pain to get to the three nuts that hold it on.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk