Engine Mechanical Topics Discussion for motor builds, cams, head work, stripped bolts and other engine related issues. The good and the bad. If it goes round and around or up and down, post it here.

Adjustable pushrod advantages

Old Apr 17, 2017 | 11:01 AM
  #31  
cvaria's Avatar
cvaria
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 2,215
From: Tallahassee, Florida
Default

As far as added weight.... not sure it's really that big of a deal:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/showp...&postcount=386



stockness




s&sness






stories of adjustables being heavy and weigh as much as 3 stock rods....
 

Last edited by cvaria; Apr 17, 2017 at 11:03 AM.
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2017 | 05:10 PM
  #32  
roussfam's Avatar
roussfam
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,689
Likes: 8,295
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Default

Originally Posted by dan89flstc
there is no need for adjustable pushrods on an engine with hydraulic lifters.

I keep reading the one about making cam swaps easier, seriously; how many cam swaps are you going to do?
x2 imho
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2017 | 05:28 PM
  #33  
Jackie Paper's Avatar
Jackie Paper
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,606
Likes: 6,439
From: Honah Lee
Default

If your mod does not require them, keep it simple. Do the extra cost/labor for valve cover gaskets and tank removal. Tin men push them so that can cut time from an installation. Then chop off the original with bolt cutters. Hopefully, no shards of metal fall in. Hopeful, adjustable don't come loose. Been round and round on whether to us Loctite or not (that fine thread should not come loose if tighten correctly). Hopefully, they set them correctly in the mid range of the hydraulic plunger. ALL JUST MY OPINION.

Pretty cool how cvaria has weighted them Only thing important to me would be the rod itself. I would have never guessed the adjustable is only 3 grams heavier. That is only .10 of an ounce. So that is not big deal. That larger tube must be a thinner wall.
 

Last edited by Jackie Paper; Apr 17, 2017 at 05:39 PM.
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2017 | 05:32 PM
  #34  
Dan89FLSTC's Avatar
Dan89FLSTC
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
Active Streak: 30 Days
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,175
Likes: 12,747
From: South Carolina
Default

Originally Posted by Hillsidecycle.com
The adjustability, quiet engine operation, and positive lifter load, trumps any negligible weight differences, every time.
Scott
Positive lifter load?

The load between the rocker arm and the lifter is exactly the same, whether adjustable or fixed length pushrod is used.
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2017 | 07:33 PM
  #35  
roussfam's Avatar
roussfam
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,689
Likes: 8,295
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Default

And we're off.....
 
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2023 | 12:16 PM
  #36  
OutlawFC222's Avatar
OutlawFC222
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 90
Likes: 14
From: TN
Default

Originally Posted by Madnss
I've always used solid pushrods, if I need to tear down I do not care if I don't have adjustables. Smith bros will make high quality solid rods for cheap. I now run adjustables because I switched to hydosolid lifters. But, this is on an xl and they don't have collapsible covers from the factory. And I didn't want to spend the cash on adjustables, and a collapsible kit.
I use Smith bros pushrods in both of our 4k hp outlaw funnycars and if they'll hold up to that then they certainly should hold up to a tc that will never see 9k rpm lol.
 
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2023 | 05:32 PM
  #37  
martinj's Avatar
martinj
Club Member
Veteran: Air Force
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 11,688
Likes: 22,275
From: Clearwater, Idaho
Riders Club Member
Default

Five year old thread.....



 
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2023 | 08:07 AM
  #38  
bustert's Avatar
bustert
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,071
Likes: 1,006
Default

i run the rivera adjustable p/r's and colony collapsible tubes
the reason is i also run lifter spacers. the setup is like running solid lifters.
advantage:
no worries about pump up or collapse
no worries on start up
i run the limit on the rpm scale
i run just enough spacing to quiet the valve train. 1/32=.03125 /6 (hex flat)=.0052 X 4 (flats)= .0208 x 1.65 arm ratio = .034 stem clearance. but the hydraulics picks this up.
also note: running solid on a hyd cam changes the way the cam functions and can HURT or HELP depending upon grind profile. on my set up it is a positive.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
chiefy305
Dyna Glide Models
16
Nov 29, 2020 08:09 AM
rydahog
Dyna Glide Models
6
Dec 7, 2017 04:44 PM
RUBI-VET
Dyna Glide Models
16
Jul 21, 2016 09:32 AM
steelpony16
General Harley Davidson Chat
12
Aug 7, 2013 06:25 AM
Scramboogie
Exhaust System Topics
7
Dec 4, 2008 10:54 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:29 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE