Adj Pushrods? Yes or No
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,602
Likes: 721
From: Bellevue, NE
Unless you plan on cam swaps in the future...why? I used adjustables but only because I didn't pull the heads, you will, so I'd stick with stock rods, one less point of potential failure.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 1,186
My vote is no. I've used adjustables for a long time, but after I pulled the heads this winter, I returned to stock. IMHO, adjustables are a pain to adjust unless you have three good hands, and you're always wondering if you got them right. I can almost remove the rocker box covers and rocker arms in order to drop in stock rods as I can adjust the adjustables. I'm sure a lot of people think the adjustables are easier, but with my dexterity, they're not.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 28,473
Likes: 3,950
From: Vermont
+1 this is the only correct answer as you never stated the cam you are using. That or perfect fit rods.
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 1
From: 20 miles north of Pittsburgh, PA
Thanks for the help. I am having the SE 255 cam installed, so it will be covered under warranty. So in what circumstances does one use adjustable pushrods?
Trending Topics
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
The downside to adjustables is that they tend to be larger diameter than stock and can sometimes touch the tubes, often causing noise that is sometimes hard to track down. They sometimes are not perfectly straight and I've even seen some move the tubes as they touch them. They can also come loose, although my old Evo had adjustables and only came loose once in >100k miles when I failed to tighten the jam nut properly. They are also almost always heavier, which although may not be an important factor isn't a positive characteristic either.
Last edited by iclick; Mar 26, 2009 at 12:17 PM.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 3
From: Southeastern Michigan
Funny you ask. Just read this this morning! Very informative.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...ge-report.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...ge-report.html
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
So the SE255's will keep the factory warranty intact? The SE catalog states "for race application only" for all their cams, including the SE255's, so I'm surprised that they would consider it different than any of the others. It is the stock cam in the CVO bikes, of course.