1964 XLH oil lines

[Sportster Jerry]

Hi, I am starting a restoration on a 1964 XLH. My question is regarding the hard oil lines that thread into the rocker boxes. My XLCH's all have a straight oil line on the front cylinder and the oil line on the rear cylinder has a bend in it, which I always assumed was for magneto clearance when you turn the mag during starting.

I assumed that an XLH would use a straight oil line on both cylinders since they don't use a magneto, but my parts book shows the curved rear line on both the XLH and XLCH. Can anyone confirm which line should be on my rear cylinder (straight or curved)? Thanks.
-Jerry

[Chris Haynes]

The parts book shows the rear oil line with the bend in it, 17324-58 was used on 1958-1964 XLH, XLCH.

[Sportster Jerry]

Thanks Chris. I also saw that in the parts book, but it just doesn't make sense to me for the XLH to use the curved rear oil line. I don't understand the purpose of it on an XLH since they don't need the magneto clearance. Is it possible that the parts book could have a mistake?

[Chris Haynes]

Thanks Chris. I also saw that in the parts book, but it just doesn't make sense to me for the XLH to use the curved rear oil line. I don't understand the purpose of it on an XLH since they don't need the magneto clearance. Is it possible that the parts book could have a mistake?

Factory photos show it on XLH's. I guess that is a mistake too. :D

[Sportster Jerry]

If you have a factory photo I would love to see it and settle this once and for all. None of the photos I have are close-up enough to see the oil lines.

[Chris Haynes]

If you have a factory photo I would love to see it and settle this once and for all. None of the photos I have are close-up enough to see the oil lines.

Look in the owners manual.

[moon wolf]

In 1969 I bought a 1961 Sportster with less than 8,000 miles from the original owner (still have it). I'm certain the top end had never been off the bike. It had two straight oil lines.

[Rub]

Moon Wolf,
What model?
Robbie

[moon wolf]

It was, and still is, a 1961 XLH

[Thumper]

My 1964 has the curved (indented) oil line. In fact it is for mag clearance when rotating. It is level w/the ground (kill switch pole) as shown in pic.

[Sportster Jerry]

Thanks Thumper, but your bike is an XLCH. My bike is the XLH model which uses a timer rather than a magneto so I don't see why it would use the curved oil line.

[moon wolf]

Yes, the curved line is for the mag. The book shows it for the distributor as well, but my 61XLH (distributor model) has two straight overhead oil lines.

[VPH-D]

I had 2 XLH motors back in the 70s, both had two straight oil lines. Personally, I always thought the bent line was magneto only. Checking 3 of my parts books, only the 52-59 book states the bent line is for the magneto. The 53-63 and 61-71 books both contradict themselves and state the bent line is for XLH and XLCH models.
VPH-D

[joestuff]

Very interesting. I have a hard time really trusting a parts manual somedays.

As the front and rear straight lines are the same number, and is used on CH and H, there is little chance that "the box ran out" when they where putting the H's together. Hens forth, I vote straight lines for both front and rear on the H. I think that is the "AMCA judge safe" decision to make, while it is possible that many H's could have left the factory with a curved rear line, for the above reasons I don't think they would have.

[Sportster Jerry]

yeah joe, the consensus from people with original bikes is 2 straight lines so that's what i'm going with. thanks for the help guys!