Back wheel REALLY hard to turn when adjusting pushrods
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,965
Likes: 384
From: SoCal hi desert
ok guys, just want to check my method as well - starting to doubt myself! So, I start by having all four adjustable pushrods completely collapsed - zero turned out. Then, I want to start with the rear cylinder, so I turn the motor in direction of travel until exhaust pushrod on rear cylinder goes up, then down, then intake of rear cylinder goes up then down, then check that piston on rear cylinder is at top dead centre (with pencil and flashlight down sparkplug hole). Then on the rear cylinder pushrods, screw out the exhaust pushrod by hand until there is no up and down slack. When there is no up/down slack, then turn adjuster down four full turns (as per S&s instructions), then lock off with nut. move to rear cylinder intake pushrod and do the same as above.
Once their done, - move the motor around again in direction of travel until front exhaust pushrod goes up, then down and then front intake pushrod goes up then down - then check that front cylinder is on top dead center. Adjust both front cylinder pushrods in the same was as above.
Does that all sound right please?
Once their done, - move the motor around again in direction of travel until front exhaust pushrod goes up, then down and then front intake pushrod goes up then down - then check that front cylinder is on top dead center. Adjust both front cylinder pushrods in the same was as above.
Does that all sound right please?
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 11
Likes: 4
From: WISCONSIN
Your right, sorry I was still half asleep ☹ hope I got it right this time, I'll practice more tomorrow, don't have time today.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 37
Likes: 5
From: Narrandera
thanks all... so, I've done the procedure, as I outlined up above - turning wheel by hand each time. Did two pushrods on back cylinder whilst on TDC, then let bleed down, then did front cylinder the same way - at TDC. I think that (obviously) it was the first time I've done this with adjustable pushrods, my issues where:
1. Wasn't expecting that rear wheel would be as hard to push as it was.
2. That when the cylinder you're working on is at TDC and you take the lash out of the adjustable pushrod by hand, i was actually screwing it by hand down too far. After the adjustable pushrod had made contact with the lifter and rocker so that there was no up/down movement, I kept adjusting by hand until I could not spin the adjustable pushrod by hand - THEN i adjusted it down the four turns and awaited for it to bleed down. Of course, it did not and hence why I questioned by method.
3. Once I realized my mistake (at 2. above) - it seemed to have worked fine as after the adjustment, there was just enough give to spin the adjustable pushrods by hand (the lifters were brand new and they'd bled down due to the previous incorrect adjustment)..
thanks again for all your help guys - sorry to take up your time with my error.
1. Wasn't expecting that rear wheel would be as hard to push as it was.
2. That when the cylinder you're working on is at TDC and you take the lash out of the adjustable pushrod by hand, i was actually screwing it by hand down too far. After the adjustable pushrod had made contact with the lifter and rocker so that there was no up/down movement, I kept adjusting by hand until I could not spin the adjustable pushrod by hand - THEN i adjusted it down the four turns and awaited for it to bleed down. Of course, it did not and hence why I questioned by method.
3. Once I realized my mistake (at 2. above) - it seemed to have worked fine as after the adjustment, there was just enough give to spin the adjustable pushrods by hand (the lifters were brand new and they'd bled down due to the previous incorrect adjustment)..
thanks again for all your help guys - sorry to take up your time with my error.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 11,175
Likes: 2,483
From: Nor Cal
Live and Learn ... you won't do that again 
I wondered about that, but this is where explanations in TEXT (and Omissions from the TEXT) can cause issues in conveying important information.
First Quote was described correctly, but wasn't performed correctly ... You didn't just remove the "Lash", you removed all the "Travel"
The "Take Away" here was that you did NOT hit the Starter and that's a good thing
I wondered about that, but this is where explanations in TEXT (and Omissions from the TEXT) can cause issues in conveying important information.
First Quote was described correctly, but wasn't performed correctly ... You didn't just remove the "Lash", you removed all the "Travel"
The "Take Away" here was that you did NOT hit the Starter and that's a good thing
ok guys, just want to check my method as well - starting to doubt myself! So, I start by having all four adjustable pushrods completely collapsed - zero turned out. Then, I want to start with the rear cylinder, so I turn the motor in direction of travel until exhaust pushrod on rear cylinder goes up, then down, then intake of rear cylinder goes up then down, then check that piston on rear cylinder is at top dead centre (with pencil and flashlight down sparkplug hole). Then on the rear cylinder pushrods, screw out the exhaust pushrod by hand until there is no up and down slack. When there is no up/down slack, then turn adjuster down four full turns (as per S&s instructions), then lock off with nut. move to rear cylinder intake pushrod and do the same as above.
Once their done, - move the motor around again in direction of travel until front exhaust pushrod goes up, then down and then front intake pushrod goes up then down - then check that front cylinder is on top dead center. Adjust both front cylinder pushrods in the same was as above.
Does that all sound right please?
Once their done, - move the motor around again in direction of travel until front exhaust pushrod goes up, then down and then front intake pushrod goes up then down - then check that front cylinder is on top dead center. Adjust both front cylinder pushrods in the same was as above.
Does that all sound right please?
Last edited by multihdrdr; Feb 16, 2020 at 11:59 AM.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 11
Likes: 4
From: WISCONSIN
Live and Learn ... you won't do that again
I wondered about that, but this is where explanations in TEXT (and Omissions from the TEXT) can cause issues in conveying important information.
First Quote was described correctly, but wasn't performed correctly ... You didn't just remove the "Lash", you removed all the "Travel"
The "Take Away" here was that you did NOT hit the Starter and that's a good thing
I wondered about that, but this is where explanations in TEXT (and Omissions from the TEXT) can cause issues in conveying important information.
First Quote was described correctly, but wasn't performed correctly ... You didn't just remove the "Lash", you removed all the "Travel"
The "Take Away" here was that you did NOT hit the Starter and that's a good thing
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 11,175
Likes: 2,483
From: Nor Cal
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That's just plain mean........
