Muffler Support Tube 65318-58 vs. 65318-58A

[Mongrel505558]

Bike is a 1968 Electra-Glide. Before anyone sends me a link to the Knowledge Base or tells me to look there, I have to say that I've looked at this extensively and read every post on the subject in the KB. I bought what I thought was the correct right side muffler support tube from V-Twin and it's not even close to fitting correctly. Turns out the V-Twin product is a repop of part number 65318-58A, but the Parts Catalog calls for 65318-58. Am I wrong in assuming the "A" at the end of the part number represents the first "revision" of the part? If it does, what are the differences between the two part numbers? The support bracket I have measures 1-1/4" across the 3/8" bolt bosses where it attaches to the frame horn. From the KB, I see others have measured 1-1/8" at this point for the left support tube and 1-3/8" for the right tube. Also, I understand that the tube is supposed to make a bend down and in toward the wheel. Mine goes in, but not down and the muffler runs right into the lower shock mount. Application is for single 2-into-1 factory exhaust - not the true dual system.

[panhead_kicker]

All I can add is that my 71 parts catalog still had -58, my 76 catalog had -58A

[RooDog]

Jim.... That -58A muffler from Tedd has a Cali Cancer warning attached to it:
OEM No: 65318-58A
WARNING: Cancer and/or Reproductive Harm - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
So I hope you haven't ingested, or inhaled any of it....
....RooDog....

[FL54]

5627CF03-A750-443A-8319-7B36BE9667C6.jpeg

75E830A8-91A8-4FFE-AF0F-1A78B7808B6D.jpeg

1958-1968 parts book also shows -58. Photos of my ‘68 FLH.

[Mongrel505558]

5627CF03-A750-443A-8319-7B36BE9667C6.jpeg75E830A8-91A8-4FFE-AF0F-1A78B7808B6D.jpeg

1958-1968 parts book also shows -58. Photos of my ‘68 FLH.

Thank you for taking the time to provide those pictures. It's hard to tell from the photo, but does the support bracket offset downward as well as inward, or just inward? Mine just jogs inward toward the wheel, and with the back of the frame jacked so the rear wheel is off the ground with the shocks fully extended there's no room to fit the muffler (fishtail). The lower shock mount is in the way. Right now the motor and transmission are out of the frame, so the rear shocks aren't fully loaded even with the wheel on the ground, but before I disassembled the bike the muffler barely cleared the shock mount, and going over bumps resulted in a dent in the muffler from the shock rebounding. It seems like the muffler should be lower.

Also, is that a dual exhaust system? I read in the Knowledge Base that for singe exhaust the muffler/Y-pipe clamp should be attached to the second bolt rearward on the support tube - not the third, with the fourth being used for the big muffler clamp.
When I got this bike it was completely disassembled, with true duals and straight fishtail extensions rather than mufflers, and homemade brackets made of bar stock. Unfortunately I don't know anyone around here with a similar bike so I have nothing to compare it to.

[RooDog]

Jim....
Would a 1975 FLH be anywhere similar to yours? I know of an unmolested '75 I could gather data from.....
....RooDog.....

[FL54]

A162798C-65C4-4278-844F-914BEECC8DA9.jpeg

Muffler support jogs in towards wheel but not down although support seems to be at a slight downward angle aft. Exhaust is dual with sidewinder mufflers which are larger in diameter than the fishtails that came on the bike. There is at least an inch clearance between the lower shock mount and the muffler. Same is true on my ‘69 with dual exhaust and Rocket tip mufflers. Hope that helps. Let me know if you need more pics.

[Mongrel505558]

Jim....
Would a 1975 FLH be anywhere similar to yours? I know of an unmolested '75 I could gather data from.....
....RooDog.....

Thanks, but I really don't know. If I had to guess I would think not, since the front pipe has a completely different routing on a cone shovel. I would assume the rest of the system had been redesigned with the passing of the slab side. I just looked quickly around the net and the ones I saw with factory exhausts looked like they had flat bar brackets. Hard to tell from a picture.

[Mongrel505558]

A162798C-65C4-4278-844F-914BEECC8DA9.jpeg

Muffler support jogs in towards wheel but not down although support seems to be at a slight downward angle aft. Exhaust is dual with sidewinder mufflers which are larger in diameter than the fishtails that came on the bike. There is at least an inch clearance between the lower shock mount and the muffler. Same is true on my ‘69 with dual exhaust and Rocket tip mufflers. Hope that helps. Let me know if you need more pics.

Thanks. Maybe I should measure my shocks. Longer shocks would make the bike sit higher, but also make the swingarm sit lower. What's the stock length for 1958 through 1969?

Jim

[FL54]

Jim....
Would a 1975 FLH be anywhere similar to yours? I know of an unmolested '75 I could gather data from.....
....RooDog.....

Exhaust is different on cone motors as Mongrel says. Front header I believe is different as well as the Y pipe as the kick starter was eliminated.

[FL54]

A162798C-65C4-4278-844F-914BEECC8DA9.jpeg

Muffler support jogs in towards wheel but not down although support seems to be at a slight downward angle aft. Exhaust is dual with sidewinder mufflers which are larger in diameter than the fishtails that came on the bike. There is at least an inch clearance between the lower shock mount and the muffler. Same is true on my ‘69 with dual exhaust and Rocket tip mufflers. Hope that helps. Let me know if you need more pics.

Thanks. Maybe I should measure my shocks. Longer shocks would make the bike sit higher, but also make the swingarm sit lower. What's the stock length for 1958 through 1969?

Jim

I’ll measure later today and post.

[FL54]

Center to center of shock stud. ‘68 13 3/8”. ‘69 13”.

[Mongrel505558]

Center to center of shock stud. ‘68 13 3/8”. ‘69 13”.

Is that with both shocks on the same load setting?
Thanks

Jim

[FL54]

CEA279B5-D1B1-4BB2-9684-8DBE43255F8A.jpeg

3432969C-0F3F-42C3-9B25-3101E6A5CB14.jpeg

I suspect not. ‘69 and ‘68 respectively.

[Mongrel505558]

CEA279B5-D1B1-4BB2-9684-8DBE43255F8A.jpeg3432969C-0F3F-42C3-9B25-3101E6A5CB14.jpeg

I suspect not. ‘69 and ‘68 respectively.

FL54, I appreciate your taking the time to help me out with this. I have a friend with a '66 FLH, but he lives about 60 miles away so it's hard to just pop over there and look at his bike for reference. I've already done that a few times and I guess I'm going to be back there a few more times before I'm through with this rebuild.

I just measured the shocks on my '68 and came up with about 14-1/8" center-to-center installed height. I don't know if that's because the transmission and motor are currently not installed in the frame, adding more weight. I guess the center-to-center distance for the factory shocks for the Duo-Glides and early shovels is 13-1/2". Is that the free length or installed and loaded length? I sure could use that extra 5/8" clearance.

Jim