"Turtle Tanks"?

I am looking in the sportster parts book and believe that 1952 was the first year.. Thinking that at least till 1969 or 70..

Were there different variants of the of them?

I'm not a sportster guy but don't the K-Model and early sportster tank look a lot different than the later large sportster tanks?
And which one is called the turtle tank? I always thought it was the earlier one.

The big tank (turtle) was standard on XLH models starting in '61. It was optional on XLCH and the reverse was also true, the small tank was optional on the XLH. The original version for '61-'62 used a very rare oval plastic emblem unique to that model. From '63-65 they used the same emblem as a Pan, and from '66 to the end used the '66 up Shovel emblem.
The K model tank (rounded design) was '52-'53 for the first design with strips fore and aft of the emblems, '54 -'56 for the second, with '54 having the standard script and '55-'56 having the "Victory" emblems. '57 Sportster tank looks the same from the outside but has a large recess underneath for the taller OHV engine.
Robbie

I love going to school here. Thank you Robbie and M.O.Ther!

You'll never stop for gas again. It also changes the feel of the bike with the extra gas weight up top and it muffles the sound of the engine as it hangs down over the rocker boxes.

Thank you all for the responses and totally answering my question!!!! I love the look of these and the extra capacity is a huge plus!! I had zero idea about all the different emblems as well. Very cool!

Hatch...your '59 is the tits!!!!! I would kill for that tank!!

O. K. What is the exact name to search eBay for one of these?

There's a guy on the local CL selling one of these. It's a good thing I didn't waste my time going to look at it. After seeing one on a bike now I can see that it's way to huge for my liking.

Richard D said:

O. K. What is the exact name to search eBay for one of these?

Click to expand...

Turtle tank, under Harley parts. Or XLH Turtle Tank.

One on eBay right now!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-XL-S...Parts_Accessories&hash=item20c51f931d&vxp=mtr

83shuvluv said:

I got one in the swap section now. Its been on the bike for a very long time. Dont know much about other than its clean inside and out. But I am pulling all 3 tins for a hard tail, newer sporty tank and springer. I have a pic of my old 60's sport that had the turtle it came from the factory with and I will find, scan and post pic later. I really dig that bike of yours Hatch!!!! Makes me start to rethink my decision.

Click to expand...

That's a Super Glide style tank, not a turtle tank.

That Superglide style tank (which was just copied from a Sprint before the SG got it!) was standard on the Sportster "Roadster" model of the mid '70s.
Not a Turtle!
Robbie