Pushrods help
Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland, Ohio
Pushrods help
Hello, I have a 73 flh with 13,000 miles pretty much all original that I inherited from my grandfather.
Hoping Somebody might point me in the right direction. My pushrod tappet block starting pooling oil around the pushrods so I went out and got some new cork replacement seals the old ones were probably original.
Started removing the pushrods and got the first exhaust pushrod out no problem and got it back in, second one was the intake right behind the first one and cannot get enough clearance to pull it past the lifters cup to get it out. I have hydraulic lifters and I am attempting this with the pushrod at its lowest point and the other intake at its highest point in travel. I'm thinking maybe my hydraulic lifters aren't compressing to allow the extra room to remove the pushrod? Am I going to have to remove the tappet Block?
Any advice on this would be awsome and much appreciated! Nice weather is hopefully on its way.....
Hoping Somebody might point me in the right direction. My pushrod tappet block starting pooling oil around the pushrods so I went out and got some new cork replacement seals the old ones were probably original.
Started removing the pushrods and got the first exhaust pushrod out no problem and got it back in, second one was the intake right behind the first one and cannot get enough clearance to pull it past the lifters cup to get it out. I have hydraulic lifters and I am attempting this with the pushrod at its lowest point and the other intake at its highest point in travel. I'm thinking maybe my hydraulic lifters aren't compressing to allow the extra room to remove the pushrod? Am I going to have to remove the tappet Block?
Any advice on this would be awsome and much appreciated! Nice weather is hopefully on its way.....
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 811
Likes: 99
From: Hopewell Twp, PA
I had the same problem getting one of my pushrods out of my shovelhead, but it didn't seem like I needed that much more to get it out. I got a pair of needlenose pliers, grabbed the bottom of the pushrod, used the top of the tappet block as a fulcrum and gently pried it out.
Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland, Ohio
yea that's my next step, I was just hoping there was another possible trick or something I may be missing?
Only need maybe a 1/8 inch to get it out if that, wIll give that a try. Thx for the reply.
Will let you know if it works.
Only need maybe a 1/8 inch to get it out if that, wIll give that a try. Thx for the reply.
Will let you know if it works.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,115
Likes: 51,405
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Stock pushrods the front exhaust is longer than the other 3 make sure you get them in the right holes and like others have said the old needle nose pliers trick works wonders.
For the install just pull the insert out of the lifter, use a paper clip to shove up in the little tube sticking out the bottom and push on the cup on the spring to blow out any oil in the lifter and reinstall it you should be able to pop the pushrods right back in and this will make adjusting easier and less breed down time .
For the install just pull the insert out of the lifter, use a paper clip to shove up in the little tube sticking out the bottom and push on the cup on the spring to blow out any oil in the lifter and reinstall it you should be able to pop the pushrods right back in and this will make adjusting easier and less breed down time .
Last edited by TwiZted Biker; May 15, 2016 at 02:56 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 811
Likes: 99
From: Hopewell Twp, PA
Stock pushrods the front exhaust is longer than the other 3 make sure you get them in the right holes and like others have said the old needle nose pliers trick works wonders.
For the install just pull the insert out of the lifter, use a paper clip to shove up in the little tube sticking out the bottom and push on the cup on the spring to blow out any oil in the lifter and reinstall it you should be able to pop the pushrods right back in and this will make adjusting easier and less breed down time .
For the install just pull the insert out of the lifter, use a paper clip to shove up in the little tube sticking out the bottom and push on the cup on the spring to blow out any oil in the lifter and reinstall it you should be able to pop the pushrods right back in and this will make adjusting easier and less breed down time .
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 811
Likes: 99
From: Hopewell Twp, PA
If they are stock, that is.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
Hello, I have a 73 flh with 13,000 miles pretty much all original that I inherited from my grandfather.
Hoping Somebody might point me in the right direction. My pushrod tappet block starting pooling oil around the pushrods so I went out and got some new cork replacement seals the old ones were probably original.
Started removing the pushrods and got the first exhaust pushrod out no problem and got it back in, second one was the intake right behind the first one and cannot get enough clearance to pull it past the lifters cup to get it out. I have hydraulic lifters and I am attempting this with the pushrod at its lowest point and the other intake at its highest point in travel. I'm thinking maybe my hydraulic lifters aren't compressing to allow the extra room to remove the pushrod? Am I going to have to remove the tappet Block?
Any advice on this would be awsome and much appreciated! Nice weather is hopefully on its way.....
Hoping Somebody might point me in the right direction. My pushrod tappet block starting pooling oil around the pushrods so I went out and got some new cork replacement seals the old ones were probably original.
Started removing the pushrods and got the first exhaust pushrod out no problem and got it back in, second one was the intake right behind the first one and cannot get enough clearance to pull it past the lifters cup to get it out. I have hydraulic lifters and I am attempting this with the pushrod at its lowest point and the other intake at its highest point in travel. I'm thinking maybe my hydraulic lifters aren't compressing to allow the extra room to remove the pushrod? Am I going to have to remove the tappet Block?
Any advice on this would be awsome and much appreciated! Nice weather is hopefully on its way.....
I had the same problem getting one of my pushrods out of my shovelhead, but it didn't seem like I needed that much more to get it out. I got a pair of needlenose pliers, grabbed the bottom of the pushrod, used the top of the tappet block as a fulcrum and gently pried it out.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 811
Likes: 99
From: Hopewell Twp, PA
That sure is a great looking bike. My rear intake was the one I had problems with too. It was easy with the pliers.