Workshop Walkthrough

Ironhead Sportster top-end & Lucas 6 V harness — four-stage animated walkthrough

A four-stage preview of an XLH cast-iron head / iron-barrel Sportster restoration. The teardown stage walks the cam-chest compressor (H-D 91810-65) sequence and three-stage reverse-torque head lift. The engine stage plays the full procedure on-canvas. The wiring stage previews the Lucas 6 V Lucar-bullet harness rebuild. The reassembly stage ends at the cold valve-clearance set.

Teardown: Drain the shared engine sump / primary case separately, mark the cam-gear orientation to the pinion, release the cam-chest cover cap-screws in a two-stage cross pattern (past 11 N.m cracks the cast-iron flange), insert the H-D 91810-65 cam-chest compressor BEFORE pulling the cam, then lift the ironhead cylinder head in the three-stage reverse-torque sequence (61 -> 27 -> 11 N.m).

Workshop Walkthrough

Watch each step animated on-canvas, then run the numbered steps below at the bench. Tap to pause; pinch to zoom when paused.

STEP 01

Step 01 - Drain oil and primary case lubricant separately -- the XL...

Drain oil and primary case lubricant separately -- the XLH shares the engine sump with the primary for 1965-77.

01/8

No video yet? Download the placeholder clip (MP4) — or drop a real workshop recording into the same slot when it's ready.

Family reference

Harley bundleIronhead (big twin)Panhead (big twin)Shovelhead (big twin)Panhead (solo)Shovelhead (solo)American hub

Loading guide...

Read next

A workshop-grounded walkthrough of scope, tools, time, model choice, and the pitfalls first-time restorers hit hardest — written for the reader who has not yet picked a bike.

Open the getting-started pillar

Read next

Harley-Davidson OHV big-twin (1966-1984). 1966-1979 cast-iron head 74"/80" era with concentric rocker arms, the 1980-1984 aluminum head + 1340cc late-Shovel cambio, the 1974+ electronic ignition retrofit, and the H-D bulletin AS-13165 cylinder barrel resurfacing caveat that gates the aluminum-head rebuild.

Open the Harley-Davidson Shovelhead Restoration Guide

Read next

BSA DOHC single-cylinder (1938-1963) -- DBD34 rigid-rear (1938-1948), YA / ZA / ZA-B Golden Flash plunger-rear (1949-1958), DBD34GS Clubman swinging-arm (1956-1962), 1959 Catalina scrambler with Lucas RM13 alternator + negative-earth switchover, and B50SS Clubman continuation (1961-1963). DOHC shim-under-bucket wedge spec (I 0.10 / E 0.15 mm), BTH fotQ versus Lucas W2 / W3 stand-alone magneto split, and the 1956 swinging-arm chassis pivot.

Open the BSA Gold Star Restoration Guide

Notify me

One email the moment a new model line ships. No newsletter.