Just installed 510 mackie gear drive cams and new hyd. lifters'. Push rods are 24tpi instructions tell me 2 1/2 turns from zero lash. Is this right or is it more like 3 1/2 . Stock heads and tc 88. please give me your thoughts. HD TELLS ME 2 1/2.OTHERS TELL ME 3-3 1/2

 

An push rod with 24 tpi,turned 2 1/2 turns moves about 0.100 of an inch,witch is half of the lifter movement of 0.200 of an inch.So the 2 1/2 turn adjustment is correct. When not sure of proper number of turns to adjust a push rod divide the TPI by 10 and that will give you the number of turns for a movement of 0.100 inch.

Macfhionghuin

 

I dont know about any other adj pushrods, but I did install the se tapered in my bike and follwed the 2.5 turn direction and have not had any problems. I did however also install so new lifters at the same time.

 

Yep; I put SE pushrods in my 99, and adjusted at 2-1/2 turns. That was 10,000 miles ago, and they are good. I would not go over 2-3/4 turns at most. Just my 2 cents.

 

In any hydraulic lifter situation it's always better to error on the "loose" side if there is any question at all.

 

The only problem with erring on the "loose" side is to introduce the potential for valve train noise. Many adust pushrods off the bottom; take up full lifter travel of .200" and back off the bottom. Not suggesting that you do it this way but just to illustrate that setting pushrod at precisely .100" of travel is not critical but, IMHO, better to go to 3 turns than 2. More important to let lifters bleed down after adjustment before rotating crank.

 

right on 2/1/2 turns did it. sounds great no tic tic tic or knock knock knock.

 

Huh,
I have the exact same question as the OP. Both S&S and Andrews say to adjust 3.4 to 4 and 4 turns respectively on their cam replacement instructions. I can only assume these company's pushrods are finer thread compared to SE which is a course thread?

 

Guys, you have to know what the TPI (threads per inch) is on your pushrods! SE Tapered pushrods are 24 TPI, so 2.5 turns after zero lash. Other pushrods such as Smith Brothers are 32 TPI, that is why you hear 3.5 turns past zero lash. Its all about setting the preload on the lifter to .100 If you have some cams with very aggressive ramps, you may need a little more preload to quiet the valve train, but what ever you do, don't go light on preload as one reply said.....can you say valve float?

 

Like razorsedge says, you need to know the TPI of the pushrod; they vary from one manufacture to another. Hard to screw up following the manufacturer's instrutions but if you want to be sure beyond a doubt, call Andrews to verify the TPI, or check with a thread guage and relax.