I recently did a cam install and decided that I would cut the OEM fixed length rods and install adjustable to save some time—little did I know then what I was getting into as in the end I would have saved more time using the originals.

I used the se tapered on a build last year. No loctite and haven't been touched.
Maybe luck of the draw?

I kept my 1 piece pushrods

 Never had an issue either............got another set ready for new bike.

Burto.

Using SE standard adjustables ATM & have been on top of 2 cams with no issue what so ever. Went & bought the SE tapered adjustables for my up & coming new build & found out the issues they were having with them over there in US.
I wasn't going to take a chance on this & went & bought me some of those Smiths/Baisley pushrods

Guys I appreciate the input to my initial review. It appears that most here in Oz haven't had any issues, where there have been issues reported across a couple of different sites in the USA. this leads me to the conclusion that possibly:

some tapered adjustable pushrod kits were incorrectly manufactured and I got a bad one;

HD knew there was an issue and changed the kit specs but left the crap ones out there and I got a bad one; or

I installed the pushrods incorrectly.

I followed the written instructions to the letter which stated (in my words from memory) hold the pushrod with a spanner and tighten the locknut against the pushrod. If the adjustable section of the pushrod turns, use a third spanner to hold the top and bottom while tightening the locknut against the upper section of the pushrod. (which is exactly what I did and I gave the locknut a hard turn to lock it agains the upper pushrod shoulder. It sure didn't work for me.

Out of curiosity for any of you who have used these with success, did you do anything different to what the instructions said to do?

I wonder if I should have overcompensated a bit on the adjuster from the 2.5 turns spec to say, 2.75 turns out, and after tightening the actual locknut, should have tightened the adjuster portion back against the locknut which would have already been locked against the upper pushrod section shoulder (to remove the extra 1/4 turn from the adjuster).
I dunno-- I'm just thinking out loud... May never know what went wrong-- a crap kit or a crap install---- but how many different ways can you tighten a locknut?

I don't remember analyzing it that much, I just remember tightening the Fark out of them, and wondering if the nuts would crack as I'd read !!
Dont think I read the instructions, just checked the TPI.