Hitchcocks Forum

On my 2007 350 Bullet, the exhaust pushrod has disengaged from the rocker arm a couple of times when using the kickstart. The top of the rod jams itself against the side of the rocker arm in the pushrod tunnel. Wondering if anyone has experienced same problem. The bike hasn't been started for about 4 or 5 years and is currently being renovated. I've done a decoke and replaced the valve springs. I'm concerned that if I start the engine something more serious might happen than at present. I feel like Donald Trump when he said "What the hell is goin' on". (Normally I wouldn't quote The Donald as his politics is bowfin but his expression encapsulates my bafflement).

I don't know too much about the Indian Bullets but I think this is a common problem. If you go in to the Accessory Shop on this site and look in the section Engine/Timing you'll see various improved pushrod options including better adjusters to address this weakness.

REgards, Mark

For the pushrod to come away from the rocker, either a massively too big a clearance is set, or, most likely the valve is sticking in the guide and not returning, leaving the rod end free, then the valve unsticks and jams the rod by the side. Safest to have the head off and check the valve and also the spring to see if it's broken. (Unlikely)

Must be rocker or loose valve guide jamming and preventing tension being kept on rod as the cam follower drops away..

Unless the end of the rod is split or rocker badly worn but this usually goes awol at high revs bordering on valve bounce..

With the plug removed and bike in gear can you get someone to turn the back wheel whilst you watch and listen to the rocker and valve movement, may be a click and sudden movement of the valve as it unsticks..

Maybe some one has swapped inlet and exhaust pushrods, one is shorter than the other but I can, t remember which

I'm also thinking of course that the bike worked when it was laid up.. But as Scotty says a cock up on reassembly is just vaguely possible.... No offence intended to Himself.

Thanks to everyone for their comments; much appreciated. My first thought was, as Nettshubby and Gwilly suggest, the valve must be sticking open but when I put the valve back after decoke it seemed to be moving up and down the guide freely. Possibly there's a fault with the new valve springs so I'll have to whip the head off again to investigate as advised. I'll also take the timing cover off and look at the cam but can't really see this causing the problem. On page 33 of the 2016-17 catalogue it says the standard pushrod adjusters can on occasion jump off the cam follower on the Electra (no mention of 350 Bullet) so Mark might be right about replacing the pushrods. I take no offense in Gwilly suggesting a cockup on reassembly may have happened.
Many thanks agsain.

Hi, just to clarify, are you saying the bike wont start at all because of this or it jumps out sometimes when starting? I had this problem with a tight valve stem. a daft question perhaps but have you set the clearance correctly? Vince

Hi Vince, I haven't attempted to start it yet. All I have been doing is kicking it over from time to time to check the oil is getting through to the rockers and to check the compression.When I bought the bike last year it was in a pretty sorry state with rust all over the cycle parts. There was absolutely no compression due to the pressure release valve having stuck open. The restoration is almost complete so I was hoping to fire it up soon. The tappet clearance has been set up correctly. It does seem odd that when I bought the bike the pushrods were functioning OK.

It might just be a tight rocker assembly, try slackening the four nuts on the top of the rocker block to see if it frees off. it is not hard to dismantle and clean things up in a sticky rocker assembly.