How to adjust valves on a Harley Davidson shovelhead?
Tighten the pushrod until you are able to turn it from side to side, but there is zero lash, or up and down movement. Tighten the pushrod locknut with two 7/16-inch wrenches for solid lifters. If your lifters are hydraulic, turn the pushrods longer by three and a half to four full turns before tightening the locknut.
When do you switch to an adjustable valvetrain?
If we switch to solid lifters it is mandatory that we convert to an adjustable valvetrain (I would also say that converting to adjustable valvetrain is mandatory in ALL racing applications as well as any application where we want to have accurate control of our valve lash setting). Not doing so is asking for serious problems!
When do you need to adjust the Lash setting on a valve?
Do not rely on the below list. If the position of the lifter on the camshaft lobe is anywhere other than on the heel (note image above) where there is NO ramp contact when making adjustments, the lash setting will be incorrect. This position is required for each valve before you attempt to perform adjustments.
How to adjust intake valve with full valve lift?
Adjust #7 Intake Valve with #3 cylinder Intake Valve at full valve lift …. Adjust #2 Intake Valve with #6 cylinder Intake Valve at full valve lift …. Adjust #1 Intake Valve with #5 cylinder Intake Valve at full valve lift ….
Do you have to adjust the valves on a Harley Davidson?
The truth is that Harley-Davidson Sportster and Big Twin Engines since the early 1980s have been built with hydraulic lifters in the valve train, which means that you never have to adjust the valves. They stay adjusted automatically.
If we switch to solid lifters it is mandatory that we convert to an adjustable valvetrain (I would also say that converting to adjustable valvetrain is mandatory in ALL racing applications as well as any application where we want to have accurate control of our valve lash setting). Not doing so is asking for serious problems!
Do not rely on the below list. If the position of the lifter on the camshaft lobe is anywhere other than on the heel (note image above) where there is NO ramp contact when making adjustments, the lash setting will be incorrect. This position is required for each valve before you attempt to perform adjustments.
Adjust #7 Intake Valve with #3 cylinder Intake Valve at full valve lift …. Adjust #2 Intake Valve with #6 cylinder Intake Valve at full valve lift …. Adjust #1 Intake Valve with #5 cylinder Intake Valve at full valve lift ….
Tighten the pushrod until you are able to turn it from side to side, but there is zero lash, or up and down movement. Tighten the pushrod locknut with two 7/16-inch wrenches for solid lifters. If your lifters are hydraulic, turn the pushrods longer by three and a half to four full turns before tightening the locknut.
Where are the pushrods on a Shovelhead Harley Davidson?
Remove original pushrods, with a screwdriver, by removing the retainer clips that hold the cover tubes in place. Then remove the cover tubes. As you are sitting on the motorcycle, the tubes containing the pushrods are located on the right-hand side of the engine, behind the air-cleaner.
What should spring spacing be on Shovel heads?
These Pan/Shovel valve springs are not bolt-in items. Always make sure to check the minimum spring spacing and to keep a minimum of .060” before coil bind, at full lift. Early 1948-1980 heads must be machined to accept AV&V’s late style lower collars.
Do you need to machine an AV-V shovel head?
Early 1948-1980 heads must be machined to accept AV&V’s late style lower collars. You may need to machine the spring seat with Goodson spring seat cutter #VSS-1680HD and/or use AV&V upper spring collar kit #R530-4 and/or machine the valve seats deeper to get the correct spring spacing.
What happens when you adjust exhaust valve to zero lash?
The lifter spring isn’t very strong so you have to use a deft feel when you adjust them to zero lash. If it’s holding an exhaust valve slightly off the seat it may still run but will overheat pronto and can burn a valve. IMPORTANT!!!! If the cam chest had debris from the old bearings then you will have to replace the lifters.
What’s the zero lash on a Harley Davidson pushrod?
“Zero Lash” is the point where there is no up/down play and but pushrod can still be turned easily using your oil covered thumb and index finger. From that point, the pushrod is adjusted (extended) the required number of turns or wrench flats to set the plunger in the approximate center of the tappet’s travel.
How do you adjust the tappet on a Harley Davidson?
Adjusting a tappet requires a cold engine, due to cylinder growth at operating temps, changing the tappet operation depth. (slight decrease as the cylinder grows taller.) Depending upon the Brand/TPI pushrod being used, the procedure is to get the lifter for the valve being adjusted on the base circle of the cam.
How do you adjust the pushrod on a Harley Davidson?
Turn your motor, by hand, and position the lifter you are adjusting to its lowest point of travel on the cam. Next, extend your adjustable pushrod until you have zero lash (adjust by hand until you pushrod is seated, but without collapsing the lifter).
“Zero Lash” is the point where there is no up/down play and but pushrod can still be turned easily using your oil covered thumb and index finger. From that point, the pushrod is adjusted (extended) the required number of turns or wrench flats to set the plunger in the approximate center of the tappet’s travel.
The lifter spring isn’t very strong so you have to use a deft feel when you adjust them to zero lash. If it’s holding an exhaust valve slightly off the seat it may still run but will overheat pronto and can burn a valve. IMPORTANT!!!! If the cam chest had debris from the old bearings then you will have to replace the lifters.