1st....I am a dummy. 2000 Heritage, TC88, stock motor except mild cam. I was at the final stage of a inner bearing/tensioner/chains maintenance, and I got the pushrods all adjusted and bled down and was about to snap the tube covers closed and realized that somewhere along the way the lower tappet tube cover o-ring for the front intake had fallen out. So now that the lifter is bled down, how is it adjusted? Do I just adjust it real tight, then back off until it turns by hand? Or take out the lifter and soak it and start over? Thanks in advance for any answers.

 

Just loosen the pushrod so you can remove it and slip the o-ring on the bottom tube. Re-install the pushrod and make sure the piston is at TDC on the compression stroke and readjust..............

 

Loosen the pushrod and remove it. Since the oil had bled out, ithe cup in the top of the lifter will be easily compressed. When extending it again, you need to extend it until it just fits (the wiggle/slop will be gone but it will still spin because you bled it down. You're looking for the point when the ***** on the ends of the pushrod are just sitting perfectly in the cups of the lifter and rocker without compressing the cup in the lifter. Then do your 3 turns or whatever the manufacturer calls for.

DO NOT tighten it all the way real tight then loosen it - you be bottoming the plunger in the bore.

 

Thanks for the help dj.....I set them (pushrods) using the S&S video for cam change. I set them on the "base circle", same as removal. I guess my question is really, do I just set the one now at zero lash period because it's bled down? I'm worried I'm going to set it too tight instead of having the correct movement on the lifter.
Just saw the other response....that makes sense. It will just turn easier when I'm setting the pushrod......the spring inside the lifter will still give it the "lift"...just without oil. Preciate!!