Hey I have a 78 shovel, not too sure what's all done to it. S&S super e carb, s&s case.. anyways I was riding it yesterday, ran perfect till it decided to start cutting out, like it was running out of gas, or missing. Ran like that for about a mile. I pulled over, and it died. I checked everything electrical before I tried kicking it. Had fire, etc.. so I decided to kick it. It usually starts within 3 kicks,it took forever this go around. I got it fired up for like 5 seconds, I shut it down because of a loud knocking noise, also when it's going through the strokes while turning it over there's more of a loud thump noise with alot of an air type noise from the exhaust. So I'm thinking maybe a valve. Anyways I'm hoping to see if anyone has had the same problem. Any advice will help!

 

I would check the push rods first and make sure they are to spec and haven't come loose if you have the adjustable type .

 

Collapsed lifet would be my firrst thought to check for.