:rtfb: In the 1978 and 1/2- 1984 It reads the oil pump can be removed piece by piece without removing the gear case cover.
I have fixed a leaky pump body gasket on my 1980 Flh80 with the cam cover off to push on the drive shaft while reinstalling the
oil pump shaft keys, gears, body, cover, c clip, etc.
Would like to hear from anyone with experience doing this with the cam cover in place.
Back in the 1970's we were expected to be able to do the job that way. I made a little thin wall steel sleeve. Set it over the oil pump drive shaft and slide the outer snap ring on without pushing the shaft back into the engine. Sort of like the way you would use one of those little plastic sleeves to slide a valve stem seal on past the lock grooves on the valve stem.
That little snap ring was the most difficult part of the job.
You got that right, what a PITA. Nice trick, might have to make one of those myself. I always wondered why they didn't use the same type of snap ring that is on the inside of the motor?
-JW