Rod adjustment
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 2,597
Likes: 2,172
From: australia
when i replaced the head gaskets on my 82 flh this is how i did it, with both heads in situ torqued down to specs.....ive cut and pasted this from a previous thread HTHs.....my 1982 FLH has hydraulic lifters and this is how i do it which is how its done in the FSM , BTW ive never had any luck with the one up one down method , not saying its no good it works for some but not for me thats all.... this is what ive written in another post some time ago........
ok so i run hydraulics in my 82 flh. I have trouble with the rear inlet pushrod getting it out. like its been said here you have to drain the oil out of the lifter, and this can take some time. i have found the easiest way to do your hydraulic tappets is to remove them ,wash them out with some fuel, check that they are not scored , put them back together dry using the suggested paperclip to collapse them and make sure there is no oil in the lifter as well this takes a bit of doing as if you move the motor it will fill up again. I take all the pushrods out and place them in bags so you dont get them mixed up, then using the flywheel marks, set front piston at TDC on compression stroke. With the lifters all nice and dry(you can use a very thin smear of oil on them ) place the units with push rods in the lifters , now you should be able to with your fingers, to adjust the nut right down till she turns no more. I then mark one flat with a pen then turn out 8 only flats, then as you use one 7/16ths to hold use the other 7/16ths to tighten this action will take up one more flat to take the adjustment to 9 flats or 1 and 1/2 turns out. repeat for the back piston. This way works best for me.....also get the HD tool for checking
ok so i run hydraulics in my 82 flh. I have trouble with the rear inlet pushrod getting it out. like its been said here you have to drain the oil out of the lifter, and this can take some time. i have found the easiest way to do your hydraulic tappets is to remove them ,wash them out with some fuel, check that they are not scored , put them back together dry using the suggested paperclip to collapse them and make sure there is no oil in the lifter as well this takes a bit of doing as if you move the motor it will fill up again. I take all the pushrods out and place them in bags so you dont get them mixed up, then using the flywheel marks, set front piston at TDC on compression stroke. With the lifters all nice and dry(you can use a very thin smear of oil on them ) place the units with push rods in the lifters , now you should be able to with your fingers, to adjust the nut right down till she turns no more. I then mark one flat with a pen then turn out 8 only flats, then as you use one 7/16ths to hold use the other 7/16ths to tighten this action will take up one more flat to take the adjustment to 9 flats or 1 and 1/2 turns out. repeat for the back piston. This way works best for me.....also get the HD tool for checking
Last edited by old mago; Jul 8, 2023 at 05:28 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,608
Likes: 3,375
From: Cental, MI
when i replaced the head gaskets on my 82 flh this is how i did it, with both heads in situ torqued down to specs.....ive cut and pasted this from a previous thread HTHs.....my 1982 FLH has hydraulic lifters and this is how i do it which is how its done in the FSM , BTW ive never had any luck with the one up one down method , not saying its no good it works for some but not for me thats all.... this is what ive written in another post some time ago........
ok so i run hydraulics in my 82 flh. I have trouble with the rear inlet pushrod getting it out. like its been said here you have to drain the oil out of the lifter, and this can take some time. i have found the easiest way to do your hydraulic tappets is to remove them ,wash them out with some fuel, check that they are not scored , put them back together dry using the suggested paperclip to collapse them and make sure there is no oil in the lifter as well this takes a bit of doing as if you move the motor it will fill up again. I take all the pushrods out and place them in bags so you dont get them mixed up, then using the flywheel marks, set front piston at TDC on compression stroke. With the lifters all nice and dry(you can use a very thin smear of oil on them ) place the units with push rods in the lifters , now you should be able to with your fingers, to adjust the nut right down till she turns no more. I then mark one flat with a pen then turn out 8 only flats, then as you use one 7/16ths to hold use the other 7/16ths to tighten this action will take up one more flat to take the adjustment to 9 flats or 1 and 1/2 turns out. repeat for the back piston. This way works best for me.....also get the HD tool for checking
ok so i run hydraulics in my 82 flh. I have trouble with the rear inlet pushrod getting it out. like its been said here you have to drain the oil out of the lifter, and this can take some time. i have found the easiest way to do your hydraulic tappets is to remove them ,wash them out with some fuel, check that they are not scored , put them back together dry using the suggested paperclip to collapse them and make sure there is no oil in the lifter as well this takes a bit of doing as if you move the motor it will fill up again. I take all the pushrods out and place them in bags so you dont get them mixed up, then using the flywheel marks, set front piston at TDC on compression stroke. With the lifters all nice and dry(you can use a very thin smear of oil on them ) place the units with push rods in the lifters , now you should be able to with your fingers, to adjust the nut right down till she turns no more. I then mark one flat with a pen then turn out 8 only flats, then as you use one 7/16ths to hold use the other 7/16ths to tighten this action will take up one more flat to take the adjustment to 9 flats or 1 and 1/2 turns out. repeat for the back piston. This way works best for me.....also get the HD tool for checking
That is the way I do it also... Can't screw up....
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