I know the "my valve train makes too much noise" threads feel like horses beaten to death, but read on...

89 Wide Glide Evo, 63,000 miles, w/ Edelbrock Performer heads, adjustable pushrods.

About 30-seconds into my bike's pre-ride warm-up, a sudden onset, loud valve-train-sounding noise caused me to rush over and shut her down. After a few moments I fired up again to listen more closely. The sound was like a badly adjusted push rod, and was still loud enough to be of serious concern.

Opened the pushrod tubes and found nothing out of the ordinary. Put the tubes back together, purchased a stethoscope and fired her up two days later. Interestingly, the noise is still present but is not nearly as loud as before: not by a long shot.

The engine was not low on oil. My immediate thought was an oiling problem or perhaps a collapsed lifter, but I thought I'd run this by you folks for your insight before digging in since it's not a trivial matter. What do you think? Can a lifter "collapse" temporarily and then re-pump? How can I test my lifters? What else should I consider?

FYI, my valve train has been noisy ever since I installed a set of Edelbrock Performer cyclinder heads. Edelbrock says there heads may be a little noisier than stock due to higher pressure springs, but should not be *much* nosier. My local indy didn't seem concerned with the noise so Iet it be. Now I'm wondering if that was a good idea. It has always sounded like one valve was making most of the noise, though the stethoscope test was inconclusive.

 

sounds like your losing a roller on your lifter,very common on evo`s.pull the lifter blocks and inspect them,there wil be a little side play,but shouldnt be ANY up & down play. check it before you ride it,you`ll save your self alot of $$ if caught early
kirby
vee twin racing

 

Prodrag, I suspect you've hit the nail on the head. After reading your reply I did a little checking and discovered that many folk here suggest these lifters be changed at 25K miles. I've got about 40K more than that on the clock, so I think I'll let her sit until I get this job done. I'll probably pick up a set of Ultima lifters at $90 for the set.

Thanks!

Z

 

ide do better than ultima,ive got a ultima 127" in my bagger,like the motor,but replaced lifters at about 200 miles.lifters are the kind of thing(like an oil pump)get the best,not the cheapest.jims or S&S
kirby
vee twin racing
ps. if it is a lifter roller,inspect the corisponding cam lobe,cams are only surfaced hardend,if theres any where,replace the cam too

 

The Moco had a service bulletin alerting that the lifters should be inspected and/or replaced at the 25,000 mile mark.
I'd get in there and hope that the cam is still intact.
Also the oil pump pick-up is just below that area, and you DO NOT want hardened bearing rollers getting in that, as a V-Twin charcoal meltdown will occur.
Scott

 

Thanks Scott... hopeflly I got it in time. I won't even fire it up until I get new lifters into it. Wish I knew how to inspect these lifters!

 

You nailed it Kirby: Two of my lifters are toast. Here's a video of one of them. I'll pull the cam tomorrow, which I can already see needs to be replaced.

Scott, any recommendations on how to inspect the oil pump for bearing debris it might have picked up? Not much inspecting required of the lifters: They're all toast.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEuyXIW1krk

 

Pull your pump down and inspect for obvious gouges, or marks on the gear teeth, and if there is, do not forget to throughly clean/replace your oil lines as well as cleaning your oil tank.
Scott

 

Good advice Scott: Thanks, I'll do that.

 

beleave me,you`ll know if anything got in the pump,and you wont need a magnifying glass,the oil passage that scott was taliking about,make sure you clean that too,had a customer with the same prob(all too common if you ask me)bought new lifters,cam & S&S pump,went home,put it together,(didnt clean return passage)and sucked another piece of roller in his new pump,locked it,broke one of the keys,wasnt real happy
kirby
vee twin racing