Lifter will not bleed down.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Savage
Lifter will not bleed down.
I put a CR480 cam and S&S Precision lifters in my 21 Road King and fired it up last night, but noticed quite a bit of noise. I had adjusted the pushrods 3.5 turns following the instructions that came with the Fuel Moto pushrods - rear pushrods while the dot on the cam sprocket was at 6 o'clock and the crank at 12. Did the fronts while both dots were at 12 o'clock.
I checked the rear pushrods and noticed both are loose. This time I adjusted the exhaust while the intake valve was closing. I waited a few minutes and the lifter bled down. I then rotated the motor until the exhaust was starting to open and adjusted the intake. Waited 20 minutes, 40 minutes, an hour and still can't rotate the pushrod with my fingers. I even tried readjusting and being careful that I wasn't compressing the lifter plunger. Waited another 30 minutes and still can't turn the pushrod. I'm starting to think the lifter collapsed and it's spring isn't pushing the plunger up.
Yes, I am reaching out to Fuel Moto tomorrow.
I checked the rear pushrods and noticed both are loose. This time I adjusted the exhaust while the intake valve was closing. I waited a few minutes and the lifter bled down. I then rotated the motor until the exhaust was starting to open and adjusted the intake. Waited 20 minutes, 40 minutes, an hour and still can't rotate the pushrod with my fingers. I even tried readjusting and being careful that I wasn't compressing the lifter plunger. Waited another 30 minutes and still can't turn the pushrod. I'm starting to think the lifter collapsed and it's spring isn't pushing the plunger up.
Yes, I am reaching out to Fuel Moto tomorrow.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
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When you say “front” and “rear”, exactly what do you mean? Intake and exhaust are the proper terms, with the intake pushrods for each cylinder being closest to the cylinder and exhaust pushrods for each cylinder being furthest from the cylinder. Also, exhaust pushrods are longer.
Never mind if you already knew this. If you didn’t, I’d suggest rechecking your work.
Never mind if you already knew this. If you didn’t, I’d suggest rechecking your work.
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,525
Likes: 6,406
From: Honah Lee
I put a CR480 cam and S&S Precision lifters in my 21 Road King and fired it up last night, but noticed quite a bit of noise. I had adjusted the pushrods 3.5 turns following the instructions that came with the Fuel Moto pushrods - rear pushrods while the dot on the cam sprocket was at 6 o'clock and the crank at 12. Did the fronts while both dots were at 12 o'clock.
I checked the rear pushrods and noticed both are loose. This time I adjusted the exhaust while the intake valve was closing. I waited a few minutes and the lifter bled down. I then rotated the motor until the exhaust was starting to open and adjusted the intake. Waited 20 minutes, 40 minutes, an hour and still can't rotate the pushrod with my fingers. I even tried readjusting and being careful that I wasn't compressing the lifter plunger. Waited another 30 minutes and still can't turn the pushrod. I'm starting to think the lifter collapsed and it's spring isn't pushing the plunger up.
Yes, I am reaching out to Fuel Moto tomorrow.
I checked the rear pushrods and noticed both are loose. This time I adjusted the exhaust while the intake valve was closing. I waited a few minutes and the lifter bled down. I then rotated the motor until the exhaust was starting to open and adjusted the intake. Waited 20 minutes, 40 minutes, an hour and still can't rotate the pushrod with my fingers. I even tried readjusting and being careful that I wasn't compressing the lifter plunger. Waited another 30 minutes and still can't turn the pushrod. I'm starting to think the lifter collapsed and it's spring isn't pushing the plunger up.
Yes, I am reaching out to Fuel Moto tomorrow.
Once they pump up with oil, they are difficult to drain down in an engine.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Savage
Well, I came back after a few hours and still couldn't rotate the pushrod. I'm guessing the lifter is ***** and is collapsed. I've double and triple checked (I've installed quite a few cams), so I think the plunger is not coming back up when the load is off. I'll reach out to Fuel Moto in the morning.
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From: Cleveland Zoo
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Savage
We just had a thread like this:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/milwa...ny-advice.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/milwa...ny-advice.html
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Cleveland Zoo
Taking your time and being sure of your work helps.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,326
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From: Central TX
I am having exact same issue while changing cam on my 128. Must have readjusted pushrods 12 times and used several methods of finding TDC, with no luck. I finally pulled tappet cover and was going to swap tappets to see if problem shifted to another pushrod, but thought no way am I putting everything back together and have the lifter fail shortly after. I just went ahead and bought some new lifters and waiting on delivery. Kind of sucks to wait longer to put everything back together and get it dynod, but I have tax return to keep me busy this week anyways! Hoping this is the fix for my problem, and nothing wrong with a valve, etc.
Last edited by txphatboy; Apr 10, 2022 at 06:54 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 432
Likes: 63
From: Savage
I am having exact same issue while changing cam on my 128. Must have readjusted pushrods 12 times and used several methods of finding TDC, with no luck. I finally pulled tappet cover and was going to swap tappets to see if problem shifted to another pushrod, but thought no way am I putting everything back together and have the lifter fail shortly after. I just went ahead and bought some new lifters and waiting on delivery. Kind of sucks to wait longer to put everything back together and get it dynod, but I have tax return to keep me busy this week anyways! Hoping this is the fix for my problem, and nothing wrong with a valve, etc.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,326
Likes: 333
From: Central TX
Last edited by txphatboy; Apr 11, 2022 at 01:30 PM.