What would happen....
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 231
Likes: 100
From: WI
What would happen....
If a guy had the rocker boxes off an accidentally switched the stock push rods on one cylinder, what would be the result? As in the exhaust push rod and intake push rod were swapped.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 757
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From: Winnipeg
Even though the difference between the shortest pushrod, and the longest pushrod is .3 of an inch... we are talking motors here, where the need for correct tolerance is high.
Even if you suspect it- it should be inspected.
Even if you suspect it- it should be inspected.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Aug 2019
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From: Santa Ana, CA
I believe the difference between the shorter (intake) and longer (exhaust) pushrod is 0.050". I think you want about 0.100" of preload on the lifter and you max out at 0.200". If you swap the pushrods your preload would be about 0.050" on the exhaust and 0.150" on the intake if they were right at 0.100" originally. That wouldn't be catastrophic, but it's likely they weren't right on the money originally, so it's possible you might be near zero preload on one and max on the other. That would not be great. Likey you'd kill the lifter which is maxxed pretty quick. And the one that has no preload could be pretty clickity clackity.
Last edited by OCSpringer; Oct 25, 2025 at 11:32 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 757
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From: Winnipeg
In total- the shortest rod- (rear intake) and the longest (front exhaust) is about .3 inch.
I was trying to say that even though its a small amount in maybe, carpentry - in motors its a big difference.
I was trying to say that even though its a small amount in maybe, carpentry - in motors its a big difference.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Aug 2019
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From: Santa Ana, CA
It's good you checked. I thought I put them in backwards once only to tear it apart and they were correct. It would have drove me nuts though if I had not checked to be sure.
Last edited by OCSpringer; Oct 26, 2025 at 08:26 PM.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 231
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From: WI
Same for me. But in this case it was obvious something was wrong. Initially though it was a spark issue and went through the ENTIRE ignition system.
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Road Captain
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Last edited by aswracing; Oct 27, 2025 at 10:25 AM.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 757
Likes: 366
From: Winnipeg
Thanks for the correction.
