Flathead 45 cylinder baffles

[Pete Engelman]

IC
is there not enough splash oil ftom the flywheels? I know my shovel heads drain and lube the skirts. What are skirt oilers?
Thanks
Pete

[kitabel]

Not enough reaches the front cylinder, hence the baffle.

[kitabel]

The 1952-56 K etc. had pinion oil pressure directed through the cam cover gasket to the right case, then up to a hole on each flange location. This matches a hole in each K flange, oil squirted through the wall on to the piston.
Many methods have been used to accomplish this in 45 & UL engines as where the oil is taken from, where does the hole enter, how big, etc. It must enter below the lowest point of oil ring travel so it's height-sensitive. IIRC the K is .040"? Smaller holes clog from oil debris.
A tap off some feed pump passage is generally the choice. It should be pressurized, so return oil is the worst choice.

[Pete Engelman]

Thanks Kitabel

[Steve Slocombe]

Early Indian, Thor and some racers ran a separate oil line to the bottom of the front cylinder, but Harley seems always to have used baffle design for lubrication. In respect to William S Harley I try to leave the baffles as they were designed.

[kitabel]

IMHO the area of the opening is far wider than needed for side clearance to the connecting rod, and is probably some proportion of the cylinder displacement, case volume, etc.