Bought this 95 Ultra last summer. I've noticed the last couple of rides that it has developed a slight, but noticeable tapping noise at highway speed, once it's warmed up. I changed the oil and filter and added a quart of marvel mystery oil. No change. Still tapping. Doesn't sound like the motor is coming apart, but it's noticeable at highway speeds. Just on a chance, I thought I would take a look at the pushrods, and it does have adjustable pushrods. I went to adjust them per the instructions I found on this site. While spinnning the front exhaust pushrod, I noticed that it appears to be bent a little. Enough to be noticeable with the naked eye when I turn it. Could this be the source of my tapping noise. Also, the rear exhaust pushrod seems to be slightly bent also, when I spin it in my finger. Should I just order a new set of adjustable pushrods and install them, or am I looking at a bigger problem??

 

that could most definitely be your problem

i suspect what your hearing is the rocker arm slapping the top of the pushrod because it (pushrod) is not maintaining contact with the rocker arm

i'd swap out all 4 just to be safe

 

Ditto!

 

Thanks guys! I don't know what brand these pushrods are, so can someone recomend the best adjustable pushrods to buy, and who sells them??? Thanks again.

 

Well, "the best" is subjective...
I've found these to be excellent.
http://www.compperformancegroupstore...ode=PUSHRODKIT

 

I'd stick with Harley adjustables, Andrews EZ, V-thunder... any reputable name, really

just stay away from the obscure names and cheap ones, like "Maddog"

 

Before you start throwing money at it you should check it out a bit further. These are hydraulic zero lash lifters and do not spin. You stated it's a 95 and you bought it last year. Noise is at highway speed. MHO is that if a pushrod was causing the noise it would be doing it at all rpm ranges being most noticeable at the lower side.

A quart of mystery oil would dilute your oil also. I'd get that changed. Your only supposed to add oz's.

 

Can't harm anything by looking further... but if those pushrods are bent like he says they are they still need to go, regardless

replace those first, see what results you get

 

OP states that the pushrods on exhaust valves appears to be a little bent. Adjustable pushrods will not always be super straight. You have two threaded parts, one male one female, and unless the threads were precision ground and aligned this would be the case. More noticeable on exhaust side because of the longer reach and when the lock nut is tightened it also will exaserbate this condition. A better way of wording it might be a slight wobble when it's rotated.

 

could be a sticking valve, then