Good afternoon!! Not a new members, just a new poster. I bought a 1970 Ironhead XLCH last month. The previous owner started to convert it to electric start but lost interest. One of my issues is the oil tank. The box of parts included a side mount oil tank for an XLH model but the frame and brackets are setup for the "lunch box" oil tank.


With the new, smaller more powerfull batteries we have now days do I really have to go with a bigger battery? Would I be safe just keeping the XLCH setup and battery box?


If anybody knows of an aftermarket oil tank with battery box that would mount using the standard bracket can you please show a link. I like the round oil tanks with the battery tray\box behind.


fish

 

The 'CH battery box is a weird size. It's really only great for the OEM size batteries.

You can run the smaller Li-Ion batteries or some other things (coworker has one on a bike), but running a standard electric leg battery is a challenge without all the XLH parts.

I will say the Li-Ion batteries are very nice, but they don't tolerate more than a few starts. They just don't have the capacity that the big batteries do. If you have rough starting or trouble, you'll likely drain the battery before it starts.

 

Thanks Scuba, I'll have to give it some thought on what I'm going to do, I'll still have the kicker. I tore into the primary side this afternoon, my lord what a mess that is. Its like two people put this bike together. The smarter of the two was on the right side and the not so smart fella was on the left.


You don't happen to know of an aftermarket oil tank that would bolt right up do ya? I'm looking for one that has a battery tray..

 

I don't know of any oil tanks besides the stock XLH one. Never looked in to it. I didn't buy my 'CH for it. I'll be the first to admit when kick only goes wrong, it goes really wrong. But when it works, oh boy is it awesome in today's world where most guys riding don't even know how to kick.

I think your best bet would be just to go stock XLH style with both the starter and kicker. The covers and parts are made for it, and it eliminates a lot of extra trouble. They're out there on eBay all the time. Just a matter of getting a good deal.

And I can understand your challenges with previous owners. Currently working on a cafe racer from an '81 Suzuki that is a previous owner special. haha Not my first.

 

Okay, I'll start looking for the battery tray. I have the oil tank, its just hard to visualize the mounting of it without the brackets.