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dry push rod adjustment

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Old May 3, 2010 | 07:02 AM
  #1  
sneeky7374's Avatar
sneeky7374
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Default dry push rod adjustment

I have a question about adjusting the push rods with hydralic lifters.
I rebuilt my 73 shovelhead after cleaning the lifters, i adjusted the pushrods as follows.
got lifters at lowest point adjusted push rods so they just made contact with lifter. backed off 1 3/4 turns.
Now my question is do i adjust them so the small spring on the lifter is collapsed,and the plunger is bottomed right out in the lifter cylinder?
With no oil in them they are almost bottomed out.
The manual says to adjust so plunger is bottomed out,then back off 1 3/4 turns.
as of now they are sloppy.
Do i kick the bike over with the plugs out until they pump up with oil,then readjust?
I just don't want to screw something up at initial startup.
A little help would be appreciated.
Thanks Sneeky
 
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Old May 3, 2010 | 07:51 AM
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d_slat
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From: Sheboygan, WI
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adjust them out until they bottom the lifter out in the bore, then back out 1 3/4 turns
 
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Old May 3, 2010 | 08:19 AM
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sqdealgeorge
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From: Eagle River WI
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I take it you did bleed off the hydraulic units by taking a small clip and pushing the internal ball thru the hole at the bottom of the unit and pushing the lifter base down untill all the oil is out Better known as bleeding down the lifters
 
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Old May 3, 2010 | 09:03 AM
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Thanks
Yes i did bleed them out i just didn't know if by bottoming out the lifter does that mean thet the small spring will be depressed.
in other words with the lifter bled out does that small spring hold the lifter up from bottoming out?
 
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Old May 3, 2010 | 06:44 PM
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After the lifter is bled the spring will collapse as you tighten the pushrod now (cam at bottom ) you will tighten till the pushrod gets tight (valve just starting to open ) then do the pushrod backoff say 1 and 1/2 turns Then proceed to the next pushrod
 
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Old May 3, 2010 | 08:23 PM
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Great
Thanks you've been a big help
 
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