Shovelhead A place to talk about Shovelheads.

Pushrod length

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 18, 2016 | 08:50 AM
  #1  
FL54's Avatar
FL54
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 574
Default Pushrod length

Stock '68 FLH with hydraulic lifters. I changed the pushrod tubes the other day and the exhaust rods came out easy. Even after shortening the intake rods all the way, I had to pry them out of the cup of the lifter. Are stock pushrods the same length or are the exhaust rods longer? Could the PO have mixed them up? I did the exhaust first and then the intake so I didn't have them all out at the same time to compare length.
Thanks in advance.
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2016 | 09:58 AM
  #2  
johnjzjz's Avatar
johnjzjz
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,449
From: la la land jerzey
Default

some aftermarket sets the 2 intakes are the same length giving 3 different sizes

shortest - rear intake
next a little longer - front intake
next rear exhaust - longer then both intakes and shorter then the front exhaust
longest of them is the front exhaust

a builders trick is to use one of the old clasped corks with the new one in the center of the front exhaust spring cup to get it to be as tight as the rest once installed
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2016 | 03:17 PM
  #3  
FL54's Avatar
FL54
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 574
Default

Thanks John but were the OEM pushrods the same length or were the intake rods one length and the exhaust rods longer and by how much? I put these back the way they were and adjusted them. If the PO had the exhaust rods in the intake, would they be hard to remove? Could they damage anything if they were adjusted correctly? I haven't started the bike but I did turn it over several times with the kicker and didn't hear any bad noises.
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2016 | 04:42 PM
  #4  
johnjzjz's Avatar
johnjzjz
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,449
From: la la land jerzey
Default

most times you cant mix the oem pushrods as the long wont work in the short locations

if you were able to install them they most likely are in the correct locations
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2016 | 05:05 PM
  #5  
FilthyLucre's Avatar
FilthyLucre
Road Master
15 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 39
From: NW Florida
Default

Stock push rods are the same part number. The adjustment is just different. I've had the same problem trying to get the intake out. Try tightening it and letting it set to bleed down, it may loosen enough that you can remove it. Don't try turning the motor over with the pushrods tight or it will bend them or a valve.
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2016 | 07:50 PM
  #6  
FL54's Avatar
FL54
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 574
Default

Thanks John and Filthy. I was able to get them in, I just had to pry the intakes over the cup of the lifter. After they were in, they had play in them and I adjusted as normal. Next time I have occasion to remove, I'll take them all out at the same time and compare length. The PO had made some pretty bonehead moves so I was concerned that he had mixed them up and I had replaced them the same way. When I turned them down 4 turns after seating, the lifters did bleed down so they would spin so I think I'm OK.
Thanks again for your advice.
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2016 | 09:02 PM
  #7  
Racepres's Avatar
Racepres
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,569
Likes: 3,324
From: Cental, MI
Default

Originally Posted by FilthyLucre
Stock push rods are the same part number. The adjustment is just different. I've had the same problem trying to get the intake out. Try tightening it and letting it set to bleed down, it may loosen enough that you can remove it. Don't try turning the motor over with the pushrods tight or it will bend them or a valve.
Not on my shovel!!!!! At minimum 3 different lengths as John has pointed out.... or you gots Chiwanese replacements!!!! I have a Set that are 4 different lengths...But, I may have Customized them!!!!
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
alan911
Touring Models
8
May 6, 2015 10:23 AM
06SGWA
General Harley Davidson Chat
2
Sep 10, 2014 03:47 PM
JayOhh
Softail Models
33
Jun 26, 2011 08:38 PM
roadgliderick
Touring Models
8
Jan 16, 2011 10:01 AM
Crazy Canuck
Exhaust System Topics
5
May 13, 2009 11:06 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:48 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE