Meanwhile with pictures to hand some more of the mystery is revealed, Yes, that vertical pipe in the oil tank (first picture) needs to come out. But looking at the timing side of the bike in your third picture, the oil filler neck is actually part of the breather kit offered by the old Royal Enfield importers, Watsonian-Squire. I think they offered this as a means of trying to combat problems with the original system, but from the photo of the drive side it looks to be incomplete, it had its own catchcan arrangement (with a return to the filler neck, I believe). Perhaps some of our other Electra-ists whose bikes have this strange contraption fitted can confirm?
I wouldn't worry about trying to replace it, just remove that pipe that goes into the oil tank and fit an original type hose tail, preferably with a non-return valve in the hose and hopefully (well it is an Indian Royal Enfield!) that's the end of the problem.
Phew.
A.



