Shovelhead A place to talk about Shovelheads.

Is this an issue?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 25, 2024 | 07:36 PM
  #1  
Aquadan005's Avatar
Aquadan005
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 81
Likes: 16
From: Pennsylvania
Default Is this an issue?

Is this push rod tube usable?


 
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2024 | 08:34 PM
  #2  
AndyinCT's Avatar
AndyinCT
Cruiser
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 205
Likes: 75
From: CT
Default

You mean will it leak? I don't think so.
 
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2024 | 09:01 PM
  #3  
chopper_man's Avatar
chopper_man
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Army
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 2,114
From: Masshole
Default

Disagree, it will leak as is. Won't seal against the rocker. Can you hit it with JB or rtv, yup. Then it won't leak.
 
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2024 | 11:21 AM
  #4  
Scrmnvtwins's Avatar
Scrmnvtwins
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 184
From: Indiana, USA
Default

IMO - It wouldn't leak because the O-Ring that fits inside the taper will be sealing against the OD of the upper tube which slides down beyond this point like a funnel. Oil would have to take a tortuous path down the tube, up between the tubes and past the O-Ring to leak.

But, if I'm wrong you may be required to pull the tube ASM apart to clean up the oily mess to get the RTV to seal...... May be good insurance now to apply the silicone at assembly just to be sure.
 
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2024 | 11:31 AM
  #5  
chopper_man's Avatar
chopper_man
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Army
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 2,114
From: Masshole
Default

Hmm, I have always used the flat gaskets with tapered pushrod tubes and o-rings with the lipped pushrod tubes.

 
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2024 | 03:07 PM
  #6  
Aquadan005's Avatar
Aquadan005
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 81
Likes: 16
From: Pennsylvania
Default

I was thinking of hitting it with my TIG machine, but it's so thin I didn't want to chance destroying it if isn't an issue or a possible leak.
 
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2024 | 04:18 PM
  #7  
john lee's Avatar
john lee
Stellar HDF Member
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 435
From: australia
Default

just change it
 
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2024 | 05:14 PM
  #8  
pgreer's Avatar
pgreer
Stellar HDF Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 3,182
Likes: 2,225
From: College Station, TX
Default

I'd change it if it were mine. There isn't a lot of oil there, but with the vibration it's hard to say what will happen. Including the split getting larger.

If you don't have a replacement, put a little non hardening sealer on that spot when assembling and rotate it to the back a little if you don't want it to be seen.

Paul
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 26, 2024 | 06:08 PM
  #9  
magnum45pete's Avatar
magnum45pete
Road Captain
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 605
Likes: 441
From: BRIGHTON, ENGLAND
Default

Originally Posted by scrmnvtwins
imo - may be good insurance now to apply the silicone at assembly just to be sure.
never use silicone sealents on your engine, it will end up clogging an oil gallery and feckin ya motor, change the tube for a good one ($3) and fix it properly
 
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2024 | 09:00 PM
  #10  
TwiZted Biker's Avatar
TwiZted Biker
Club Member
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,125
Likes: 51,446
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Default

Use corks instead of an o-ring there and it should be fine.

If it's a situation where a bit of sealant is the only way it's gonna seal up use Hylomar not silicon. Some aftermarket lifter blocks that front exhaust tube it's the only way to get it oil tight.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:52 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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