Is there a way to visually check and diagnose the lifters? A 2015 FXDWG with less than 4k miles came in and the noise seems to come from there but I would like to be certain before ordering parts.

 

This seems to work

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/membe...-products.html

 

You might consider investing $65 in a set of CompCams VThunder 850-1 lifters or cheaper yet, a set of GM SBC lifters (GM PN 17122490) for shop test mules. However, as you must know, there are other things to be checked for what many describe as "lifter noise". Could be valve train lash; check each pushrod with piston at TDC on compression stroke for any up/down movement. Could be tensioner or tensioner chain issue; check both. Could be the OEM "C" lifters that have been know to have issues with rollers and general quality issues. Get inside the cam chest and take a good look around.

Pull the rocker support shafts and look for witness marks that show that the shaft is rotating in the support. Symptom is a persistent noise at a fixed rpm range, like 2900 to 3200. There are a couple of products that are remedies, Rocker Lockers is one.

http://rockerlockers.com/

 

Have a look around my website (in the sig below), you might find it very interesting

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For ROCKOUT information & purchasing please click the LINKS below...

 

Thanks for the info on that product, looks good, but I'm asking about the lifters and how to diagnose that they are the cause of the problem/noise. I would like to know more and not just order new ones and hoping that was the cause.

 

The point of the previous posts is that what you refer to as lifter noise is valve train noise and the lifters may not be the source of the noise. You can take the lifters out and take them apart but unless you find any debris in the lifters or the oil port clogged, you won't be able to tell if a lifter is bad or not by looking at the internals. The only way to verify if a lifter is not holding prime is to replace it with a lifter that is known to operate properly. Hence the suggestion to invest in some shop "mule" lifters for that purpose. The GM lifter referenced in my previous posts is cheap; about $5 each and will work as test units. Comprende?

 

Sadly yes.