Hey guys. I Have a 98 FLHRCI with about 32K. The Motor has never been touched. When I go on a run of a hundred or more miles there is a small pool of oil that shows up. It is coming from the top of the rear push rod and running down the side of the rod cover.

If i have the push rods replaced to change the seals what else should I have done? My plan was to leave it stock since it has never been touched. But you know once I start digging in plans change

 

Just have them change the pushrod o-rings and rocker box gaskets.

 

I was told that the best way was to cut the oem ones and install adjustable.

 

You've got several options, if it's a leaking O-ring.

1. Pop top PR cover off. Slice a new O-ring at 45 degree angle. Take out old one and put in the sliced one (super glue, if you want) and carefully replace PR cover.

2. Cut PRs and buy adjustable ones. Replace all O-rings

3. Pull rocker covers, pull out PRs, and replace O-rings and associated rocker gaskets. No head to take off heads.

Anything else beyond those options get more $$ and time.

 

While it is the fastest it ain't the best.

Adjustable pushrods are not needed on a stock motor and can bend if you get too much tension on them or the lock nut can come loose not to mention that they cost around $100.

The best way is the way I told you.

 

I've got to ask if you have ever used #1.
It seems to me that cutting an o-ring to install it is an incredibly stupid thing to do.

 

Interesting idea though. Might work and costs little to try.

 

I was wondering about that one, too.

I suppose the worst thing that could happen is you end up back where you started.

 

OTOH, a good set of rocker box gaskets (middle and top) will run about $60 (at least that's what I remember paying back in '12). Then there's the labor involved in draining/removing the tanks, dismantling and reassembling the rocker boxes and the rocker arms, and the chances that you might do something wrong there, or end up; with another leak where you didn't have one before, and have to do it over again.


Yes, I know the disadvantages of adjustable push rods, but I've been running them on my otherwise stock motor(s) for 175,000 miles now with none of the issues you mention. The DO make periodic changes of lifters and cam bearings (or trying new cams) a snap. At my age, I like to make things easy on myself.


Cutting and gluing an O-ring? Now that's something even I wouldn't try.

 

I would try the first option. I worked for 30 years in the oil and gas field, and I have cut and super glued o'rings to use on wells when I didn't have the right size that I needed. If that didn't work, I would go to option 3.
I do my own work, and my labor is free to me.....