andrews adjustable pushrod question.

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Apr 27, 2011 | 08:11 PM

#11

Spanners39

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2010

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From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand

Some cams don't need adjustables.....always read the instructions online before buying anything! I used Andrews adjustables on a TC and found they went in just fine but the SE's were way easier to adjust and tighten.

May 2, 2011 | 12:03 PM

#12

Noble Jim

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Joined: May 2008

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From: Greeneville, TN

I put the SE adjustables in my 08 ultra. I cannot get them to quieten down. I used Black Ops lifters. On my initial ride, an awful noise broke out....35 miles from home and no tools. I was able to get some tools and pulled the pushrod tubes and one of the SE jam nuts had broken in two. I got a replacement jam nut at Lowes (of all places). It was a grade 5 but I used blue locktite. When I got home I removed all the SE jam nuts and replaced them with grade 5 (couldn't find grade 8 locally). I have adjusted the pushrods at least 5 times and it gets a bit better each time, however it isn't perfect. I'm at a total loss. I wonder if there is something up top that could be making the noise. At an idle you cannot hear it, when accelerating you can't hear it. About the only time you hear it is at 2K rpm, not on a pull. Any ideas?

May 2, 2011 | 12:19 PM

#13

V-Twins & Bowties

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Joined: Dec 2010

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From: Florida

For what it's worth. I stumbled across a thread about adjustable pushrods contacting the pushrod tubes at the top. Guy ground away some pushrod tube material for clearance and solved his noise problem. Might want to check that out.

You remove the top cover on your rocker box and watch the pushrod as the engine is rotated. You'll see contact if thats the problem.

May 4, 2011 | 08:54 AM

#14

bubba626

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Joined: Apr 2010

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From: oklahoma

thanks guys,
looks like I got them installed and adjusted. test rode and new lifters quited down.... all looked good after first ride...EXCEPT i had a oil leak at the bottom of one of my pushrod tubes... o-ring and shim feel out when I was installing i guess...either way, took back apart/installed and started bike for a couple minutes before moving to my CV carb work. all seemed to look good. will test ride soon..

I did notice a slight whinning gear noise but it did not seem LOUD. is this normal? I've read on past threads on here that after cam install it was common to have gear noise. I had no pins so not sure of measurement but all gears seemed to mesh together well on install and I used a .055 shim for cam.

May 4, 2011 | 09:22 AM

#15

Dr.Hess

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2007

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From: NW AR

Assuming you measured the endplay on the cam and selected the shim based on that, some whine isn't really that much to worry about.

May 4, 2011 | 10:31 AM

#16

dan1911

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Joined: Jun 2009

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From: southern ohio

Remember backlash on camshaft is .0000 to .0005 your not working with much. It would kind of depend on what a "slight whine" is. What color code was the original camshaft? If you didn't measure your new cam, and it is an Andrews, it will be a "red" cam gear. So if your old camshaft was a red also you can be pretty sure all would be good to go.
Another option, pull off the old cam gear and put in on the new camshaft. many people go this route, that way nothing changes as far as pinion to cam gear mesh.

May 19, 2011 | 06:13 AM

#17

Noble Jim

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Joined: May 2008

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From: Greeneville, TN

Update: After adjusting these miserable things for what seems like a hundred times, I pulled them out. The would "tick" at around 2K rpm. Nothing seem'd to help. I put in some S&S steel adjustables. They came with new chrome sleeves. I installed them and the problem seems to be defeated. I examined the SE adjustables and the HD sleeves. There were clearly marks on them where they were rubbing or touching the sleeves in two locations each. I bought what I thought was the "good stuff" from HD to make a good bike even better. What a bunch of crap. I now know to go with folks like S&S, Crane, Andrews, etc for the really good stuff. Live and learn.

May 20, 2011 | 09:11 AM

#18

Jim Kraft

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Joined: May 2009

Posts: 2,856

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From: Middle of Kansas

The SE pushrods seem to work fine in EVO's. Doesn't sound like they run to well in Twin Cams. I did notice when at the parts counter that the Twin Cam engines need the tubes replaced with the pushrods, where as the EVO's only need the pushrods and use the original pushrod tubes. Mine worked great in my 99 EVO.