What could cause this and is it possible to keep riding it? My front cylinder is definitely ticking too much(cant even hear the rear cylider valvetrain) and it started getting noisy about a hundred miles back. While turning the rod in my fingers(still in the tube) it keeps making contact once during a turn. I'm thinking its warped. Do Harley Davidson adjustables come out without taking the lifter cover off?

 

I highly doubt that is warped..... Yes the adjustable pushrods will come out. Most likely the pushrod lock nut came loose, thus causing the pushrod to loosen and (shorten) giving you a tick. Check that first, if not might be a collapsed lifter.