Do I have to remove the push rods n rocker box to do upgrade on cam tensioner? I bought the SE upgrade kit for my 04 EGC and don't know if I can get away with not replaceing the pushrods to Adj. rods and opening the rocker box. Anyone know how I can do this, if at all possible?

 

You will either remove the rocker boxes to remove the pushrods or cut the old ones and replace with adjustables

 

YES. Uprade the rest while you are in there!

 

Precisely what he said...

 

Are the adj. push rods an improvement over the stock ones in other ways other than by not having to remove the boxes to get the old ones out?

 

No. Unless you plan on removing the cam plate a couple of times during a season, don't spend the money on adjustables. Remove tank, rocker covers and boxes, pull pushrods and reverse to put back together. More work but once done, no pushrods to adjust, no adjustor nuts to come loose; no worries.

Don't know how many miles on the bike but you should replace inner cam bearings; upgrade the INA bearings to Torrington. Replace oil pump and scavenge port o-rings, replace o-ring under rocker box (below breathers), replace plastic breather with metal ('04 may have been the year the breathers were upgraded to metal??) replace breather innards and gaskets. If mileage is low, inner cam bearigs, oil pump and scavenge port o-rings should be enough. Front is easy, the back is more challenging.

If more than 25K miles, I would take the opportunity to replace the lifters as well.

 

I have 37K on it. Won't the new SE upgrade plate come with new bearings? I ordered the SE upgrade Hydra. from Chicago HD and it comes with the new oil pump already. I would think it would come with new bearings as you speak of, shouldn't it?
I was going to get the new rings needed for te rocker box already for it takes 5 if I think right. The stealer by me had the complete kit for around $100. I am a tad tight on cash now and was trying to get what I needed w/o getting crazy with it.
I am having a friend who is a Cert. mech. helping me on this project. Do we have to have any speciality tools to do this job that a regular mech. would not have already?

 

It won't come with bearings. You will have to buy the bearings and gaskets separate or buy the cam installation gasket kit. I would suggest re-using stock pushrods and going through the rockers. What I would do is buy the Herko quick connect crossover to make future tank pulls easier. I would also buy the 61001-01 fuel filter kit, 61402-02 top gasket and 10 of the 1311D's sealing screws and change out the fuel filter whilst the tank is off. Then I would go through the rocker boxes and drill out the rocker supports with a #43 drill bit for better oil return and use the new 2011 breather baffles. I would also use the SE (Torrington) inner bearings in the cam chest. And yes, new lifters as well.

 

The man knows what's he's talking about, but I wouldn't ride over to his house. He may hit your machine with a hammer.

 

If you don't have one, buy the HD service manual for your bike. And do as Dawg suggested. The fuel filter is changed at 25K mile intervals IIRC.

I haven't purchased the Herko crossover quick disconnect product, but I want to keep my stainless/chrome crossover line, and I don't take the tank off that often, but when I do I don't mind the process.

Good luck with your project.

Carl