So following the HD Manual for my 2001 Eglide with Twin Cam 88 engine, to find TDC on the rear piston I put my finger on the intake lifter, I turn the rear wheel forward until the lifter goes up and and keep turning until it goes down. Then I put my finger over the rear spark plug hole and turn the rear wheel forward until the air stops escaping from the cylinder. I use a wooden paint brush to verify the piston is all the way up. TDC. I bolt down the rockers assembly and allow for the lifter bleeding down. The exhaust push rod will spin freely. The intake push rod will not spin. I’ve unbolted and bolted it back down 3 times with the same result. I allowed a couple of hours for the lifters to bleed down.
I’m doing something basic in the wrong way. But I don’t know what. ??
I’m wondering if I took the rockers apart when it was on over lap instead of TDC? But both push rods would spin so. Not sure.

 

Could you have the pushrods swapped?

 

Are you on the right stroke??

 

Short pushrod is intake, long is exhaust. If they are swapped, this is exactly what happens.

 

I will double check the push rods. 99 3/4% sure I’m in the right stroke. Will double check stroke too. It’s a new day. Anything could happen. I might even get it right the first time! Thanks.😎👍

 

I have the pushrods in the correct lifter bores. And I am at TDC. I wonder it it would hurt if I tighten down the rockers assembly and let the lifters bleed down. Not torque it yet. Then if the intake rod is still tight, just rock the rear tire slightly to see if the rods will both loosen. I’m wondering if when I took the rocker assembly off of the bike, things weren’t quite lined up and I left a valve spring a little bit cocked. I ask because I don’t want to accidentally Ram the piston into an open valve.

 

Of you are worried about it, rock the crank a little forward or back to get the piston down say 1/2 inch. While doing so the lifters for that cylinder should not move and the ones on the other cylinder will.
I hope the difference is length was obvious. Maybe both are exhaust?

Another possibility is you have a stuck lifter.

 

Stuck lifter! I bet that is it. Because the exhaust lifter bleeds down faster than the intake lifter and then when I tighten the rocker assembly just before torquing the bolts, the intake rod won’t spin and the exhaust one will. Good idea! Thanks.

 

Another possibility is you have a stuck lifter.[/QUOTE]

I removed the two lifters and squeezed some 20/50w Mobil 1 into the hole until old oil came out of the other hole. I reassembled, lifters, push rod covers, push rods, rocker and breather assembly. Tightened all bolt but didn’t torque yet. Ate lunch for 30 minutes to let the lifters bleed down. Check push rods and both spin. I’ve read elsewhere that lifters that are empty of oil can collapse. I don’t think mine collapsed but that one was probably stuck. Thanks again! 😎

 

good deal...sounds like you have it sorted.
I find it easier to find TDC on each cylinder with a straw. the TC will blow that straw damn near to the top of my garage on compression stroke. then I stick it back in there and rock engine back and forth to make sure the piston is all the way up then adjust the pushrods. works fine the 4 times I've done this so take it with a half grain of salt. lol