Hi All,
so, i have a 2003 Road king & have put s&s cams, screamin' eagle hydraulic upgrade and S&s adjustable rockers. All was going really well until it came time to adjust pushrods. Bike is up on center jack, is in top gear and there is almost no way I can turn the back wheel over by hand to get TDC etc going to start the adjustment procedure. Any tips/tricks as to how to make this easier? Bike was running perfectly with old gear in it (just didn't want to keep the stock cam tensioners etc in there) - so it's not like it is seized. When in neutral, back wheel spins just fine (so back brake is not binding). I think perhaps too, the primary belt is a little slack, but that shouldn't stop it turning. The only way I can even kind of move the back wheel is to use both hand and kind of too/fro it really hard and it moves like 1/4 inch at a time. I've seen a heap of youtube videos and guys are like just using one hand to move the wheel around. No, I'm not a 90lb weakling either (just thought someone would be thinking that).
any ideas please? Thanks in advance.

 

Put the bike in it’s top gear, which will help you in spinning the rear tire.

 

And take the sparkplugs out.

 

thanks guys - should have mentioned, yes, it's in top gear and sparkplugs are out.

 

Put in neutral, tap the starter then use the wheel for finer adjustment?

 

With spark plugs out you should be able to turn it … I usually just use my foot against the side of the tire, not even needing my arms.
You have to find out what is binding BEFORE you damage something!
.

 

haven't tried my foot... will give that a go. Pretty sure nothing is binding though. When I was disassembling the bike, I had to put the cylinders on TDC before taking out pushrods and it was really difficult to turn then too. Could it be because the belt is a bit loose? I can't imagine what could be binding as there is nothing to bind? Cams are in properly - everything bolted up fine. As I said, it will turn, but only just. I thought it was the rear brake, but wheel spins fine in neutral. I did consider taking the primary case off and trying to turn motor that way? I guess I can always put the tank back on, reassemble and reconnect and bump starter via switch.

 

You are probably not in 6th gear.

 

It's not as easy as some claim when everything is assembled. Even with plugs out you are pumping air through the plug holes and valve springs and the whole tranny, There is alot to move.

 

I can almost guarantee he’s not in 6th gear!