Heat Cycling Big Bore Install
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 972
Likes: 1,016
From: Knoxville
If you're reusing lifters, disassemble and clean them, they will have black oil in the bottoms of them, you could also flip the plate over to get a new sealing surface. (I usually disassemble, clean and inspect new lifters)
Use a few drops of oil to assemble them, but leave then empty.
Before you install the top rocker covers is a good time to adjust pushrods and prime the oil system.
It's easy to see where zero lash is and no wait for bleed down after adjustment with empty lifters.
Then prime the oil system, spin the engine with the plugs out until you see oil coming out the rockers, and make sure the oil gets to the valve stems.
Don't kill the starter, you may have to let it cool a time or two before all rockers have oil coming out.
You should have previously removed shafts and clean the inside of rockers and make sure oil holes are clean.
Finish engine assembly, it's ready tp go.
Use a few drops of oil to assemble them, but leave then empty.
Before you install the top rocker covers is a good time to adjust pushrods and prime the oil system.
It's easy to see where zero lash is and no wait for bleed down after adjustment with empty lifters.
Then prime the oil system, spin the engine with the plugs out until you see oil coming out the rockers, and make sure the oil gets to the valve stems.
Don't kill the starter, you may have to let it cool a time or two before all rockers have oil coming out.
You should have previously removed shafts and clean the inside of rockers and make sure oil holes are clean.
Finish engine assembly, it's ready tp go.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 972
Likes: 1,016
From: Knoxville
There are some that say do not heat cycle at all, the instructions that say use a stopwatch and do 10-second, 20-second etc heat cycles seems just a very good way of avoiding owner-installed warranty claims as nobody will do it that way and they can say you didn't follow the instructions to the second and so "sorry, out of warranty parameters at install".
That would be my professional opinion and possibly that of many other professional wrenches. I can guarantee you that brand new Harleys are not heat cycled like that in the factory and never have been.
That would be my professional opinion and possibly that of many other professional wrenches. I can guarantee you that brand new Harleys are not heat cycled like that in the factory and never have been.
Very cool, Im only a year or so into air cooled engines, have 40 years of small Chevy, Ford , Mopar, Pontiac and Oldsmobile engines under the belt. We always used the three hot and cold cycles, flat tappet breakin then send it.
So essentially, the three cycles is it and 10-20-30 seconds is a manufacturer call. The initial 10 second run seems a bit over the top, I cant get my smoking pipe lit and burning good in 10 seconds, my first runs have all gone over 20 seconds. I will still run three hot/cold cycles of idle time and get the temps up before jumping onboard. And Ill still go easy like Sunday morning for the first few hundred.
I like getting differing opinions, sorting thru and seeing what works best for my skill level. Aint no right or wrong just right or learning, when you leave out the phallic measuring.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,504
Likes: 3,732
From: backwoods
Its all arcane art that you can't prove. I do heat cycles and brake my engine in. I don't see how it can hurt. But unless you tear down a 100 brand new engine and examine with a microscope, I doubt you'll ever answer this. riding habits and maintence over the life of a motor probably dictates more. But I am still going to break my engines in. And I am going to change break in oil.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,944
Likes: 8,039
From: poway
If you're reusing lifters, disassemble and clean them, they will have black oil in the bottoms of them, you could also flip the plate over to get a new sealing surface. (I usually disassemble, clean and inspect new lifters)
Use a few drops of oil to assemble them, but leave then empty.
Before you install the top rocker covers is a good time to adjust pushrods and prime the oil system.
It's easy to see where zero lash is and no wait for bleed down after adjustment with empty lifters.
Then prime the oil system, spin the engine with the plugs out until you see oil coming out the rockers, and make sure the oil gets to the valve stems.
Don't kill the starter, you may have to let it cool a time or two before all rockers have oil coming out.
You should have previously removed shafts and clean the inside of rockers and make sure oil holes are clean.
Finish engine assembly, it's ready tp go.
Use a few drops of oil to assemble them, but leave then empty.
Before you install the top rocker covers is a good time to adjust pushrods and prime the oil system.
It's easy to see where zero lash is and no wait for bleed down after adjustment with empty lifters.
Then prime the oil system, spin the engine with the plugs out until you see oil coming out the rockers, and make sure the oil gets to the valve stems.
Don't kill the starter, you may have to let it cool a time or two before all rockers have oil coming out.
You should have previously removed shafts and clean the inside of rockers and make sure oil holes are clean.
Finish engine assembly, it's ready tp go.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 3,141
Likes: 1,922
From: Unreconstructed
Personally, I pump the lifters up in fixture with 5 wt fork oil, and use good assembly lube. One thing I've seen missed is assembly lube on the rockers and a little moly grease on the pushrod ends. Can pull plugs and crank over til you see pressure but it may take a while oil to get to the top and it can make a mess. Windage on these motor can blow stuff all over.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,944
Likes: 8,039
From: poway
Here is how I do it.. I tried the jar/vacuum pump but it doesn't do as well.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/engin...l#post20442881
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/engin...l#post20442881
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,820
Likes: 7,851
From: SE Louisiana
Personally, I pump the lifters up in fixture with 5 wt fork oil, and use good assembly lube. One thing I've seen missed is assembly lube on the rockers and a little moly grease on the pushrod ends. Can pull plugs and crank over til you see pressure but it may take a while oil to get to the top and it can make a mess. Windage on these motor can blow stuff all over.
You have to put a hose on the oil line coming off the cooler on an oil cooled m8, that'll make a mess if over looked.
The 3 piece Evo rocker box might spill over though, never did one that way.
I'll keep doing what works for me, I'll be finished long before your lifters are "pumped up"
and the rest can keep bucking everything they didn't think of.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,944
Likes: 8,039
From: poway
Never made a mess yet, it's not coming out hard at cranking speed, and the hand full I've done this way didn't take long to reach the top, TC & M8's.
You have to put a hose on the oil line coming off the cooler on an oil cooled m8, that'll make a mess if over looked.
The 3 piece Evo rocker box might spill over though, never did one that way.
I'll keep doing what works for me, I'll be finished long before your lifters are "pumped up"
and the rest can keep bucking everything they didn't think of.
You have to put a hose on the oil line coming off the cooler on an oil cooled m8, that'll make a mess if over looked.
The 3 piece Evo rocker box might spill over though, never did one that way.
I'll keep doing what works for me, I'll be finished long before your lifters are "pumped up"
and the rest can keep bucking everything they didn't think of.
Not sure what you mean by you being finished before the lifters are pumped up. My way you simply start the bike and the motor is assembled.. Lifters make 0 noise. You're done.
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Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 3,141
Likes: 1,922
From: Unreconstructed
Never made a mess yet, it's not coming out hard at cranking speed, and the hand full I've done this way didn't take long to reach the top, TC & M8's.
You have to put a hose on the oil line coming off the cooler on an oil cooled m8, that'll make a mess if over looked.
The 3 piece Evo rocker box might spill over though, never did one that way.
I'll keep doing what works for me, I'll be finished long before your lifters are "pumped up"
and the rest can keep bucking everything they didn't think of.
You have to put a hose on the oil line coming off the cooler on an oil cooled m8, that'll make a mess if over looked.
The 3 piece Evo rocker box might spill over though, never did one that way.
I'll keep doing what works for me, I'll be finished long before your lifters are "pumped up"
and the rest can keep bucking everything they didn't think of.