Twin Cam Motors Twin Cam 1998 thru 2017

Pushrods rubbing?

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Old May 19, 2025 | 03:30 PM
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Default Pushrods rubbing?

TC 124, 630 lift cam, SE Quick Adjust pushrods.

Took my pushrods out as it seemed my ticking noise grew louder. My upper pushrod tubes have been bored out to .610. I note rub marks on the front exhaust and rear intake. Does this look like the PRs are rubbing? Would boring the tube to .625 help?
Rear intake
Rear intake
Front exhaust
Front exhaust
 
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Old May 19, 2025 | 04:13 PM
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Are the SE pushrods the tapered pushrods? Boring the tubes another .015" is only .0075" more clearance; enough, don't know and only one way to find out.
 
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Old May 19, 2025 | 05:44 PM
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Originally Posted by djl
Are the SE pushrods the tapered pushrods? Boring the tubes another .015" is only .0075" more clearance; enough, don't know and only one way to find out.
yes, they are tapered...
 
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Old May 19, 2025 | 07:05 PM
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Originally Posted by RomeoTango
yes, they are tapered...
That's unusual. Did you buy the "kit", i.e., pushrods, tubes, clips and o-rings? Are there witness marks on the pushrod?
 
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Old May 19, 2025 | 07:18 PM
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Yep. they are rubbing.. My bet is that they ain't making the noise. I've had worse and the motor was quiet. Your info about the build leaves a lot to be desired. For instance, if you are running Woods cams, you may have to live with it.. I don't know how bad CR 630 cams are. Who setup the heads? Lifters, preload, cam towers, rockers arms.. Who checked the valve geometry? When do you get the tick? Idle? Running down the road?, At 6000 rpm?
 
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Old May 19, 2025 | 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by djl
That's unusual. Did you buy the "kit", i.e., pushrods, tubes, clips and o-rings? Are there witness marks on the pushrod?
I did, but the upper tubes are stock. Don't believe the kit replaces those.
 
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Old May 19, 2025 | 07:55 PM
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Of the build, a very reputable builder did the 124 and tune. Cases bored, 120R heads worked over by a reputable shop with heavy SE springs. Builder says the ticking sounds are normal. I've heard a few other 124s that were absent of the ticking. Just trying to quiet things down if they can be. The sound always pulls my attention to the right side of the engine, and to the front in and around the pushrods.
 
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Old May 20, 2025 | 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by RomeoTango
Of the build, a very reputable builder did the 124 and tune. Cases bored, 120R heads worked over by a reputable shop with heavy SE springs. Builder says the ticking sounds are normal. I've heard a few other 124s that were absent of the ticking. Just trying to quiet things down if they can be. The sound always pulls my attention to the right side of the engine, and to the front in and around the pushrods.

Well give it a shot and let us know how it goes.. There are a number of ways HDs will tick.. Some motors are noisier then others. If anything adjust the plungers deeper into the lifters since you have it apart.. If you do that and motor quiets down, don't claim it was the covers.
 
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Old May 20, 2025 | 04:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Max Headflow
don't claim it was the covers.
Haha! For sure! I adjust these to ~.140. 3 turns 2 flats I believe.
 
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Old May 21, 2025 | 08:35 AM
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What "exactly" were done to the heads? Sounds like the valve geometry is off, need more info.. I had a very similar issue with the last set of heads I had done at hillside.
I have a thread here somewhere describing how I had to open up the rocker plate guide hole to keep the pushrods from rubbing, that's how far my geometry was off. The valve stem protrusion was way out of spec because of sinking the valve seats to maintain proper valve to valve clearance while still keeping the combustion chambers at 85 cc. So it depends on how much they shaved the heads which will lower the rocker assemblies that will change the geometry as well.

Here's one thread of valve geometry issues that apparently caused my failure. Too much vale protrusion.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/engin...g-my-dyna.html
I'll see if i can find the other thread showing the geometry being off.
 

Last edited by 98hotrodfatboy; May 21, 2025 at 08:45 AM.
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