Valve noise
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,774
Likes: 2,606
From: san antonio
Except the CVO models; they leave with Syn3.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,774
Likes: 2,606
From: san antonio
Consider manufacturing tolerances and the "stack up" height of the valve train, from nose of cam to rocker arm. There will be variances that introduce lash into the valve train. That is why some valve trains don't make as much noise as others. Adjustable pushrods allow adjusting the pushrod to make up for some of the sloppy manufacturing tolerances.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 413
Likes: 1
From: canfield,ohio
can the valves be adjusted in 2011 103,s or is that why people are using adjustable push rods cause my front cylinder sounds like it has solid lifter in it , the back one is quite as a cat . just saying
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,774
Likes: 2,606
From: san antonio
No valve train adjustment without adjustable pushrods.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,808
Likes: 285
From: Green Country Oklahoma
Harley motors are running hotter and hotter by every year thanks to EPA so the manufacturer leaving tolerances little loose to prevent from seizing up.Only way to have a quite motor is to have tighter tolerances but then it needs to be liquid cool instead air.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
This still isn't adding up right.
Hydraulic lifters pump up and take out the slack of a valve train assembly. You do have to get the push rods sized right, so the pumped up lifter stays within its range of expansion. Which Harley supposedly does, selecting the correctly sized fixed length rod.
Which is why I don't understand the comment about getting adjustable rods to adjust lash. This is something you do with mechanical lifters, not hydraulic lifters.
I could see adjustable lifters quieting down the valve train is if Harley sized the push rods too short at the factory. Then the hydraulic lifter couldn't tighten up the loose valve train. I could also see it helping if the hydraulic lifters are too weak and can't hold their pumped up length.
Yet I don't actually see any indication that Harley has been installing too short pushrods, or weak lifters. Especially when to do so would make the bike noisier, and screw up emissions. But, stranger things have happened.
Hydraulic lifters pump up and take out the slack of a valve train assembly. You do have to get the push rods sized right, so the pumped up lifter stays within its range of expansion. Which Harley supposedly does, selecting the correctly sized fixed length rod.
Which is why I don't understand the comment about getting adjustable rods to adjust lash. This is something you do with mechanical lifters, not hydraulic lifters.
I could see adjustable lifters quieting down the valve train is if Harley sized the push rods too short at the factory. Then the hydraulic lifter couldn't tighten up the loose valve train. I could also see it helping if the hydraulic lifters are too weak and can't hold their pumped up length.
Yet I don't actually see any indication that Harley has been installing too short pushrods, or weak lifters. Especially when to do so would make the bike noisier, and screw up emissions. But, stranger things have happened.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,712
Likes: 9,219
From: Snow Hill, NC
All i can tell you is when i did my cams and added adjustable pushrods my valvetrain got all quiet...I wouldn't hesitate to installed them in any bike, even stock...Adjustable is like custom fit...I've had my SE ones in for about 25000 miles, no issues.
Last edited by Notgrownup; May 30, 2013 at 08:33 PM.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Brand new 2013 FLTRX.... got what I think is a lot of valve noise (lifter?) compared to my 08. Only 650 miles on it now...Does HD use "break in" oil. I don't think synthetic will quieten it down.
I know louder pipes will help but geez........
No WOT runs just normal riding and highway speeds.......
I know louder pipes will help but geez........
No WOT runs just normal riding and highway speeds.......
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
From: Illinois Corn Desert
The pushrods cut the noise isn half. Synthetic, without stepping on too many toes hopefully, just snake oil. Dino every bike I have ever owned in the last 38 years and no oil related problem to date on Hondas, Suzukis, Kawisakis, Harleys and Sears mini bikes. Synthetic......never ever, ever gonna use it in my cars either. Just good marketing is all it is. Oh did I forget the lawnmowers-push and ride, chainsaws and on and on and on....