push rod adjustment
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
noise
I have some noise that sounds like the tappets are loose , (some people say that I am **** to the nth degree) so I bought new roller rocker s ,new adjustable pushrods , new rocker arm shafts, did the adjustment just like you guy say and I still have what seems to be noisey tappets is this normal or am I just being to fussy
Steve
Steve
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
I have some noise that sounds like the tappets are loose , (some people say that I am **** to the nth degree) so I bought new roller rocker s ,new adjustable pushrods , new rocker arm shafts, did the adjustment just like you guy say and I still have what seems to be noisey tappets is this normal or am I just being to fussy
Steve
Steve
An ironhead is always going to be anything but quiet.
Normal for a Sporty is going to sound like a threshing machine compared to something like a Gold Wing or some other such Brand X bike.
You have new parts and have done the adjustment correctly so you are good to go. Noise is normal.......... pg
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: indiana
i've benn wondering .im hearing a rattle when driving at 35-45mph coming from the pushrods got home used a dowel rod and can hear it from the rockers all the way down to the tappets and cam on the front cycl.it seems to be kinda loud as i hear it over the roar of my open drags ,but then goes away at 50mph and above is this something to worry about?its an 82 sporty.i had it apart and ran checks on all of it but cant seem to figue it out can you give me any help
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
i've benn wondering .im hearing a rattle when driving at 35-45mph coming from the pushrods got home used a dowel rod and can hear it from the rockers all the way down to the tappets and cam on the front cycl.it seems to be kinda loud as i hear it over the roar of my open drags ,but then goes away at 50mph and above is this something to worry about?its an 82 sporty.i had it apart and ran checks on all of it but cant seem to figue it out can you give me any help
The first thing I recommend you do is to check the valve clearance with the engine stone cold.
If you find the pushrods to be adjusted correctly, then everything is fine. If they are too loose or too tight, adjust them following the directions we have given.
A Sportster engine (ironhead) is a normally noisy engine. That is just a fact of it being an ironhead.
But you should check the valve adjustment by all means.
As I said before, it is best to check the adjustment every 3 months if the bike is ridden regulary......... pg
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 481
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota
Pretty sure this procedure is stated in the Clymer manual. I have both the FSM and a Clymer, I just checked the FSM and it states what PG & Mick said. I'll have to check my Clymer manual when I get home tonight, I know I've seen the procedure that describes setting them with just a slight amount of "shake", meaning the slightest amount of fore and aft movement from the top end of the pushrod.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
Myself, I do not 'shake' or adjust so there is a slight 'rattle' to the pushrod.
Adjustment is made so that the pushrod will just rotate a full 360° using one finger to roll the pushrod.
Anything more than this is too loose.
I also would trust nothing printed in a Clymer manual. Period!
pg
Adjustment is made so that the pushrod will just rotate a full 360° using one finger to roll the pushrod.
Anything more than this is too loose.
I also would trust nothing printed in a Clymer manual. Period!
pg
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Bellmawr NJ
I agree with Pinion Gear on the procedure. Make sure to test it after you tighten the locknut, as it has a tendency to get tighter if not held just right.
Other than that yes, they are noisy bikes. I have the stock '78 2-1 exhaust which is quiet, and my engine sounds like a rockin' sewing machine + intake growl and bark.
Other than that yes, they are noisy bikes. I have the stock '78 2-1 exhaust which is quiet, and my engine sounds like a rockin' sewing machine + intake growl and bark.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 481
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota
Pretty sure this procedure is stated in the Clymer manual. I have both the FSM and a Clymer, I just checked the FSM and it states what PG & Mick said. I'll have to check my Clymer manual when I get home tonight, I know I've seen the procedure that describes setting them with just a slight amount of "shake", meaning the slightest amount of fore and aft movement from the top end of the pushrod.
"Loosen tappet adjusting screw lock nut and turn adjusting screw downward (into tappet body) until push rod is just free and has noticeable shake. When checking for push rod shake, grasp push rod with finger tips just below cylinder head, and shake toward front and rear of engine."
"Slowly turn adjusting screw upward (toward push rod) until almost all play is removed. At this point lock the tappet screw lock nut against tappet body and recheck for correct tappet adjustment."
"A tappet is correctly readjusted when push rod has just noticeable play or shake, can be turned freely with finger tips, completely around, without any trace of bind".
I knew I had seen it somewhere, but forgot to look in the owners manual til tonight. I actually have mine set this way presently.