1959 XLH Coil

All things K & Sportster

1959 XLH Coil

Postby roadbum » Fri Jan 25, 2019 12:03 pm

Hello, Purchased this 59 XLH last year at an estate sale. The Gentleman owned it since 1968 and I am trying to get it back to where it started. Still 6 volt and has the coil (number not listed in my book) with the spark plug wires exiting the top. Was told that this coil was Panhead only. Would this coil have been used in an early production XLH. Thank you in advance.
roadbum
 
Posts: 82
Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2018 10:10 am
Location: Connecticut

Re: 1959 XLH Coil

Postby spacecoast » Fri Jan 25, 2019 12:46 pm

According to my parts catalog #99451-59, the correct coil for your bike should be part # 31609-52a
spacecoast
 
Posts: 30
Joined: Tue Jun 06, 2017 11:28 am

Re: 1959 XLH Coil

Postby roadbum » Fri Jan 25, 2019 6:02 pm

Thanks spacecoast. Is 99451-59 the number of the tall coil that I have? If so, it is pictured in my parts catalog which is why I asked if it was used. Wish that I found this sight earlier as I have made a couple of expensive mistakes thus far. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.
roadbum
 
Posts: 82
Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2018 10:10 am
Location: Connecticut

Re: 1959 XLH Coil

Postby hennesse » Fri Jan 25, 2019 7:42 pm

All of the K and XL Parts Catalogs are available for download in our Literature section.

-----
Harley made one basic 6-volt ignition coil. They attached some different brackets. They attached extra terminals. They installed different length wires. They installed wires with different terminals/boots at the spark plug end. They sold each one under a different part number. But for us, it's simple.

Coils for radio (Police) have four terminals. The extra two terminals are just grounds. There are no Police K-models or Sportsters. So if it's got four terminals, it's for a big twin. But if it has the channel bracket (see below) it will work fine on a K/XL - but it won't be correct...

Coils up to 1947 had a bracket riveted to each side of the coil. U-bolts attached the coil to the frame. Not us.

Coils for 1952-1964 K, KH, XL, XLH and 1948-1960 Big Twin, have a channel bracket with mounting holes at the top and bottom. It's the same coil. K/XL wires are different length/ends than Big Twin coils. So just replace the wires.
Attachments
coil-6v.jpg
coil-6v.jpg (26.9 KiB) Viewed 12534 times
User avatar
hennesse
Site Admin
 
Posts: 668
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2014 11:28 pm
Location: Warrenton, Virginia

Re: 1959 XLH Coil

Postby spacecoast » Fri Jan 25, 2019 7:45 pm

The # 99451-59 was regarding which parts catalog I used for reference.
It's a parts catalog for 1952-1959 k models and sportsters #99451-59 issued Sept.1, 1958
The catalog price? $4.50
spacecoast
 
Posts: 30
Joined: Tue Jun 06, 2017 11:28 am

Re: 1959 XLH Coil

Postby EKHKHK56 » Fri Jan 25, 2019 7:51 pm

Same coil as BT yes. If you have one with good wires installed might use them. They can be fun to change out, last one I had were seriously stuck! Have an end like a fish hook..
User avatar
EKHKHK56
 
Posts: 920
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 5:20 am
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska USA

Re: 1959 XLH Coil

Postby hennesse » Fri Jan 25, 2019 9:27 pm

spacecoast wrote:According to my parts catalog #99451-59, the correct coil for your bike should be part # 31609-52a


You are correct. The -52A first appears in the 1957 Parts Catalog. The difference between the 31609-52 and 31609-52A Spark Coil and Cables is the front cable. I'm guessing the later one is a little shorter - the spark plug on the OHV is on the side of the head, where on the flathead it is top middle of the head, but I really don't know.

Code: Select all
1952 - 1956 K and KH
  31609-52 Spark Coil and cables

  31966-52 Set of spark plug cables
    Consists of
      1  31972-36A  Front spark plug cable
      2  31680-27  Spark plug cable packing washer
      1  31985-52  Rear spark plug cable


Code: Select all
1957 - 1964  XL and XLH
  31609-52A Spark Coil and cables

  31966-52A Set of spark plug cables
    Consists of
      1  31970-52  Front spark plug cable
      2  31680-27  Spark plug cable packing washer
      1  31985-52  Rear spark plug cable
User avatar
hennesse
Site Admin
 
Posts: 668
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2014 11:28 pm
Location: Warrenton, Virginia

Re: 1959 XLH Coil

Postby roadbum » Fri Jan 25, 2019 9:57 pm

I have removed the wires from the coil because the boots were split. Haven't found anyone offering replacements. Any suggestions? Being that I am probably going to use the coil I have will I have a problem getting wires? I saw that the coil contains oil. Does it need to maintain a certain level and if so what type? Wires have a solid core that stick out about 1/4 inch and were bent on about 90 degrees. Does this seem correct. Any input is appreciated. Thank you.
roadbum
 
Posts: 82
Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2018 10:10 am
Location: Connecticut

Re: 1959 XLH Coil

Postby wz507 » Fri Jan 25, 2019 10:43 pm

roadbum wrote:I saw that the coil contains oil. Does it need to maintain a certain level and if so what type? Wires have a solid core that stick out about 1/4 inch and were bent on about 90 degrees. Does this seem correct. Any input is appreciated. Thank you.

I believe the coil contains tar. The wires push onto triangular shaped sheet metal spikes near the bottom of the coil.

This vendor was selling the subject wire set as recently as Nov 2018. Perhaps contact him and see if there are more.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-1952-1964- ... 1534780583
User avatar
wz507
 
Posts: 356
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2015 9:13 pm

Re: 1959 XLH Coil

Postby hennesse » Fri Jan 25, 2019 10:49 pm

The coil is full of some black viscous glop, that some oil leaches out of. I have no idea what the oil is, but I wouldn't get it on my skin. Normally, you don't take out the wires until you have replacements. The black glop may "melt" and fill in the vacancy where you removed the wires. If the wires are straight and firm, you can reinsert them until you get replacements. Or use some dowel rod or similar. See excerpt from service manual below.

The spark plug boots on the wires I used were too small and split, so I can't recommend them. I'd definitely go with solid core wire instead of modern resistor wire. Modern wire is made to reduce electromagnetic interference with electronic ignitions and radios - neither of which you have on your bike, so you don't need RFI-supression resistor wires. Modern wires will probably make your bike harder to start. This is true with battery and coil ignition on an XLH, but it's especially true on a magneto XLCH.
User avatar
hennesse
Site Admin
 
Posts: 668
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2014 11:28 pm
Location: Warrenton, Virginia

Next

Return to General K / Sportster Discussions

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests

cron