I don't think the pre owner have done anything wrong. If you look at the manual, I guess the adjustment screew also is different. Had the same issue on a FLTC 86, but then with the adjustment screw, the seller said the short screw should fit, I did see at the photo that it was way different.


As you can see on the photo, the lenght is given. Did see on a dutch side, that 98 had an own pushrod number, but perhaps that's only the way that side operate. Have seen that some are selling the same parts from 84-90, but there is many parts that then not will fit on your bike.