Help.. push rods tight

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Apr 5, 2010 | 11:36 AM

strontiumdog

Thread Starter

Stage IV

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 4

Likes: 0

From: London,England

Help.. push rods tight

Hi, just changed the cylinder gaskets on my (1990) 1200 sportster.
I've put the Right hand cylinder and the cylinder head back on as per the manual, but the rocker arm cover is really tight and the push rods wont spin. I dont want to star it up like this. Any ideas anyone???? The lifters are at their lowest point?

Apr 5, 2010 | 12:15 PM

cHarley

Club Member

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 16,320

Likes: 306

From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh

Did you mark and keep track of the push rods to insure that each push rod went back into the hole it came out of?

Apr 6, 2010 | 02:34 AM

strontiumdog

Thread Starter

Stage IV

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 4

Likes: 0

From: London,England

yep, push rods in the right place and right way up and everything back where it came out. I did lap the valves though (very slightly with fine grinding past)???

Apr 6, 2010 | 04:24 AM

e6fmf

Road Master

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 832

Likes: 125

From: Parris Island

Did you turn the motor over for each cylinder, per the manual?

Apr 6, 2010 | 05:43 AM

xFreebirdx

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 7,604

Likes: 38

From: Landrum, SC , elevation 986'

There are different thickness gaskets. Did you use OEM or aftermarket. Like e6fmf says about the motor........The rods would (could) be tight depending on what stroke the cylinder was on.

Apr 6, 2010 | 10:23 AM

strontiumdog

Thread Starter

Stage IV

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 4

Likes: 0

From: London,England

I turned the motor over a couple of times and the pushrods seemed to go to the lowest point (lifters at the lowest point) Ive used a james gasket set(bought it from a harley dealer). Would lapping the valves make any differance ??? (I wouldnt have thought so).
I've followed the maual (clymer & Haynes ) to the exact point but when tightening the rocker arms covers down the pushrods are really tight and will not turn with my fingers (The manual warns about this). Dont really know what to do next (except take it to the shop)???

Apr 6, 2010 | 05:38 PM

drum412

Road Captain

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 656

Likes: 2

From:

Go ahead and bolt the lower rocker down, carefully tighten the bolts just to seat the lower rocker to the gasket and make sure everything is lined up then torque to spec. The reason your having problems is because the tappets still have oil in them causing them to be raised a little. Once you tighten everything up and run the motor the tappets will readjust properly.