I just installed a SE447 cam, HP+ Lifters, S&S Cuffs and the latest revision HD oil pump in my 2017 Softail. Today I was installing the SE adjustable push rods. I did the rear first. Then I started to install the front intake push rod. I spun it by hand to take out the play then started to run the jam nut up. I could spin it by hand on the first section where the two flats are machined into the sides. When it got to the fully threaded section it basically stopped. When I did the rear it spun by hand all the way up, so I knew something was not right.

It was brand new set, no damaged threads, everything was black. I tried to wrench it up but it felt like I might strip the threads because I was giving it a fair bit of force, so I removed it and had a closer look on the bench. I could see a little silver on the threads where it transitioned to full thread from me trying to wrench it past this (bad?) spot. I ran a die up and down, I could feel it bite lightly for about three turns where I had tried to run the nut up past the bad spot. The nut still would not run up past the transition. I tried the nut from the not installed Exhaust pushrod, it spun all the way up. So then I tried the nut that was giving me trouble on the Exhaust pushrod which was still in the package and it would not go pat the transition, it was definitely the nut. If I ran it down from the top it would stop at the transition as well.

So I took a 3/8 24tpi tap and tried to run it through the nut. One way it would start and then stall just before going out the other end. I flipped it and tried running the tap through and it would not start, ok no problem, I'll put the nut in the vise and run the tap through. It was VERY tight, tap was squeaking even with oil, I thought for sure the nut was going to split. I would just turn the tap a 1/4 turn, back it off a 1/4 turn and so on until I made it through. It runs all the way up now, I'll finish the front cyl tomorrow.


It's strange because I could spin the bad nut with my finger, I just wouldn't go past the transition to full threads. Just this one nut. I was really worried the nut would split or the tap would tear out the threads, plus a new set of Se Adjustable Pushrods are $464.43 Cnd. tax in

This is the all good after picture

SE adjustables are $464.43 Cdn tax in.

 

I had the same issue with one of my SE pushrods but it wasn't the nut.. If you look closely at the transition point with a magnifying glass you will see the last two threads on the square section have extended Burrs on them and you will need to take a file and clean them up.. that's what I did and mine works perfect again..

 

I ran a die on my pushrod, the threads were fine. It was the nut, I guess I cracked it.when I was running the tap through it and didn't notice. All the other nuts ran up and down that pushrod no problem. I was lucky that my dealer had one laying around.