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Buell Forum » Old School Buell » Archive through October 11, 2019 » Push rod tube leaks « Previous Next »

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Buellmanmike
Posted on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 - 03:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Are there no better lower pushrod seals that can be had for my X1? What do yall think about the many, 1 piece pushrod bases, aka seal holders, which are out there for the 91-03 XL engine..? They are starting to look real good to me, but I hate that they all serm to use the same flimsy BS lower seals instead of a solid o-ring, like the top..?..wth is up with that? Anyone running any of these? And what kind of luck have yall had with them. Also any recommendations on who makes the best one?
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Buellmanmike
Posted on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 - 03:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I am actually liking the NRHS ones, but still haven't found a price on them and they're close till April 30....jml.
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Falloutnl
Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 - 08:16 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The last two or three times I did this with my dad, we used the blue ones made by James. I think we've used (at different points) a thicker grease and maybe a pinch of glue to convince the gaskets to remain in the base. One of us pushed down on the base with a piece of wood while the other fastened the bolts. Seemed to have worked fine up till now.
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Upthemaiden
Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 - 08:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The NRHS/Hammer 1 piece bases come highly recommended. Not much you can do with the top seal but I think the bases are usually the problem.
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Jolly
Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 - 09:12 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Best set up are the single billet base with the collapsible pushrod tubes (like big twins)...I kept stuck push rods... using a center spring to push the tube into the base and the top seal. I haven’t had a leak since doing this to 5 different bikes. For me it’s now an automatic change!

I’ve done a write up on them
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Upthemaiden
Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 - 10:47 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/714295.html?1371451238
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Mike_lee
Posted on Thursday, April 25, 2019 - 05:28 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

after watching hammer struggle installing those w/out glue in one of his vids, I super glued mine to the base and let it sit overnight. first attempt worked perfectly. I got the kit from hammer dan and am using the stock tubes.
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Screamer
Posted on Thursday, April 25, 2019 - 11:38 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

During the mid to late ‘90s there was some unintended variation in pushrod cover tubes. The overall length stayed true to print but the distance from the top of the tube to first shoulder (that seats against the o-ring) occasionally varied.
The photos show two pushrod covers, one is correct and one has excessive length from the top of the cover to the first shoulder. If the length to shoulder is too long, the pushrod cover will migrate upward and permit the bottom seal to roll under and leak.
From the plant, the lower seal was glued to the (bottom) seal retainer plate, and would rarely leak. Leaks would usually surface after the engine was taken apart and then reassembled with new o-rings and seals (that were not glued).
Glueing the seal or double o-rings might work, but the successful solution is to replace the pushrod cover with one with the correct “top to shoulder length”.
Fortunately the problem is not very common, but can be very frustrating if not identified.





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Buellmanmike
Posted on Thursday, April 25, 2019 - 10:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I had read somewhere, about a difference in push rod tubes, but mine are original to the bike, and have been kept in the same locations. I used a new blue James gasket seal kit. I did not use the super glue, but 2nd time now. I held the base down with o-ring in place, and threaded the bolt all the way down b4 I let off. Seemed all good. Last resort b4 I pull the rockers and order the Cometic's this time. I gotta pay bills 1st, but I can't even find a price on NRHS pieces..? Anyone know? I like the look of their big chunky billet aluminum bases. Hammers look fine as well. I may go with those. One last try, I got a HD filter, and their 20/50. Try that 1st it's cheaper...!
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Screamer
Posted on Thursday, April 25, 2019 - 11:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Even if your pushrod covers are original to the bike, it’s possible that you may have one that it is out of spec.
They are not very common, but if you have chronic leak issues, that may be your cause.
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89rs1200
Posted on Thursday, April 25, 2019 - 11:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Y'all realize the o-ring in the top of the head needs to be pushed all the way up as far as it could go. The tube will still go in if the o-ring is not all the way up and oil will leak down.
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Buellmanmike
Posted on Sunday, April 28, 2019 - 08:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I wouldn't say I've had chronic leaks there. I got rear ended. Jan 2018, just getting it back together. Now I'm Jonesin' to ride again, and Murphy's law is handily kicking my @$$. It's not the top. I had the heads off, when I pushed the o-rings in the top, and I could feel them slip into their groove, fit very nicely no issues. It's not leaking at the top. Now I have a whole new problem. I rode it last time and it leaked still. I went pretty far around my hood in a circle. It ran good considering losing oil. Someone suggested the wix filter was no good, maybe has a check valve, blah, blah, blah....And that I was not running HD oil...! So I got their filter and 50w, and changed the oil. Then I cranked on it to fire up, but it now seems there is no fire...JMFL. A dead coil now.
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Buellmanmike
Posted on Sunday, April 28, 2019 - 08:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

It died, on that last ride just as I went past my place. I am glad I made it home, but just figured it lost too much oil, so the lifters weren't giving me valve operation, and therefore no compression. I parked it, till I had money for oil/filter...
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Jayvee
Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2019 - 05:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

So which one of the top picture is the desirable one? The top tube has a longer necked-down bit at the end, like 1/2" (?) and the bottom tube has a necked-down bit about 3/8". The bottom tube has what looks like duct tape around it in the bottom picture.
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Screamer
Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2019 - 06:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

In both photos, the bottom pushrod cover is dimensionally correct. At one time, I had marked several with scotch tape and a written description (which has now faded) to demonstrate the variability. That’s the tape you’re seeing in the photo.
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Buellmanmike
Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2019 - 08:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I am pretty sure mine looked like the top ones. I will check when I get them out again.
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Buellmanmike
Posted on Friday, May 17, 2019 - 09:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I got my new cometic o-rings, they seem a lot nicer and less floppy than the blue James ones, which I used the first time out. Once those really cool new bases, come from Hammer, I should be rolling again...! And then, I'll be trying to come up with the rest of my parts to install the XB front end, wheel and braking system...Lol. It is never ending with the Buell, but also, with my 4 wheeled cages too.
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