Maybe 3, Possibly 4 Bent Pushrods?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: NW FL
So there should be absolutely no up and down movement at all?
Also, I went by a transmission shop and had the pushrods put on a lathe - two of them showed movement so I figured a whole new set was in order. On the way home, I passed a indy shop and took them in. They said they were fine, but I'm not sure how they determined that. I put them in my drill when I got home and it really looks like one of them is definitely bent, but my drill is of course by no means a high quality lathe.
Also, I went by a transmission shop and had the pushrods put on a lathe - two of them showed movement so I figured a whole new set was in order. On the way home, I passed a indy shop and took them in. They said they were fine, but I'm not sure how they determined that. I put them in my drill when I got home and it really looks like one of them is definitely bent, but my drill is of course by no means a high quality lathe.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,575
Likes: 4
From: Norfolk, VA
There should not be any up/down play on the roller...That will cause a clatter and in extreme cases can cause the roller to skid on the cam lobe...
A friend of mine with a '76 Shovel ran his engine with a loud clatter until the roller wiped out a cam lobe...Once those needle bearings start to wear out, the debris will wedge among the other needle rollers causing them to bind up, which eventually will bind up the roller causing it to skid over the cam lobe.
A friend of mine with a '76 Shovel ran his engine with a loud clatter until the roller wiped out a cam lobe...Once those needle bearings start to wear out, the debris will wedge among the other needle rollers causing them to bind up, which eventually will bind up the roller causing it to skid over the cam lobe.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 14
From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
I've got double trouble right now on my 86. I began hearing the clatter and bought a mechanics stethoscope and traced the noise to the front cylinder lifter, only one rocker box created the tap I heard.
I need to get the timing reset to know it's dead on because there is a lot of noises that can occur if the timing is off too.
I get a backfire in the air filter when giving it gas from a stop. And since the timing is off the occasional backfire while riding. But all that could also be a single lifter issue.
But most recently I'm going through a clutch issue and need to finish resolving that in order to get back on the road with it. It seems the clatter has been getting louder but I've been focused on the clutch trouble (clutch lever keeps going limp after precise adjustments in just a few mile ... possibly the pushrod or throw out)
I'm at 47k and it seems like everything has been going bad on the bike. I appreciate the discussion here. It's helped me know more about what to do for this new issue.
I need to get the timing reset to know it's dead on because there is a lot of noises that can occur if the timing is off too.
I get a backfire in the air filter when giving it gas from a stop. And since the timing is off the occasional backfire while riding. But all that could also be a single lifter issue.
But most recently I'm going through a clutch issue and need to finish resolving that in order to get back on the road with it. It seems the clatter has been getting louder but I've been focused on the clutch trouble (clutch lever keeps going limp after precise adjustments in just a few mile ... possibly the pushrod or throw out)
I'm at 47k and it seems like everything has been going bad on the bike. I appreciate the discussion here. It's helped me know more about what to do for this new issue.
Last edited by JohnnyC; Sep 15, 2011 at 09:02 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,195
Likes: 3,085
From: NW AR
Get a timing light and check your timing first, of course.
47K and your original lifters are shot. Even the later ones ("B") should be replaced at 50. Backfiring through the carb is too lean. Through the exhaust is probably a busted crossover pipe. Inspect and replace that sucker asap or you will wind up doing this:
47K and your original lifters are shot. Even the later ones ("B") should be replaced at 50. Backfiring through the carb is too lean. Through the exhaust is probably a busted crossover pipe. Inspect and replace that sucker asap or you will wind up doing this:
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 14
From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
Thank Doc,
You've been so helpful here on several of my issues ... I do appreciate your help.
Lifters at around 50k is new to me. Guess I'll be learning another service technique by digging in and getting it done before it "cascades" into mo trouble, mo money!
You've been so helpful here on several of my issues ... I do appreciate your help.
Lifters at around 50k is new to me. Guess I'll be learning another service technique by digging in and getting it done before it "cascades" into mo trouble, mo money!
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: NW FL
Well, I went with an entirely new SE rod set as I couldn't get a straight answer from 3 shops on whether they were bent or not. As for the lifters, I know that one of them were bad, but I went ahead and replaced the entire set with VThunder lifters as I didn't know what brand the old ones were, and I didn't know how long they had been in there.
Got everything together about a week ago. I still have some very noticeable valvetrain noise, but I have heard that any setup with an EV-27 in it will produce noise. Unfortunately, I have no idea how much it should be producing. Since it was loud, I threw on my "Look at me" loud pipes. All in all, I'm happy I did the work and got the experience, but wish the valve train were a little quieter.
Got everything together about a week ago. I still have some very noticeable valvetrain noise, but I have heard that any setup with an EV-27 in it will produce noise. Unfortunately, I have no idea how much it should be producing. Since it was loud, I threw on my "Look at me" loud pipes. All in all, I'm happy I did the work and got the experience, but wish the valve train were a little quieter.
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