So i got a little ahead of myself today and took the top end of my 99 Softail apart today. I purchased the bike last fall to keep me busy over the winter. The guy I bought it from said he rebuilt the upper end and it only had 400 miles on it when i got it. Well as I was dismantling it I did notice the front cylinder did have a blown head gasket. I am planning on using James gasket kit. My buddy is helping me on the rebuild and says I should use adjustable push rods, can someone point me in the right direction of which ones to use without breaking the bank? Thanks for all the help.

 

Unless you are going to be changing cams all the time, you don`t need adjustable push rods. The stock pushrods are fine.

 

The only reasons to use adjustable pushrods are if you are running a radical cam or to avoid pulling the rocker boxes.

Without knowing what cam you have and since you already have the top end off don't waste your money.

And for what it's worth I have been left on the side of the road when one of the adjustable pushrods came loose.

 

Thanks guys...I really appreciate the advice. No sense wasting money...if adjustables are not needed then I will stick to what I got.

 

forget the james gasket idea - they more than likely is what has blown out -- .042 thick cometic MLS is the stock replacement use them cometic gaskets, for all you are replacing - johnjzjz

 

If you've got a blown head gasket and have the motor apart, look closely at where the cylinder studs go in to the case and make sure the threads aren't pulling out of the case, at the base gasket. The four head bolts. If one of them is stripped out at the base, it will loosen and cause problems at the head gasket. It happened on my bike. If the threads are pulling out of the case, there is a fix for it. Threaded insert. This may not be your problem, but could be. It could be the cause of the blown head gasket. One of the head bolts won't torque down. Something to check while you're in there.

 

Excellent advice .... Also be sure to check for "flatness" of the head and the jugs while you have it apart. It only takes a few minutes and can save you a ton of time and money down the road.

 

When I rebuilt my motor, I used cometic base gaskets, but for the head gaskets, I went with stock Harley. I just didn't like the torque specs for the cometic head gaskets. But that's just me.

 

Thanks guys, I will go with cometic gaskets and check the cylinder studs as well as the flatness of the head and jugs.

I really appreciate the input and will keep you posted.

 

Yep those james are junk in my book I got just about 100 miles on them& all started leaking , I put cometic set in & no more leaks