Lifters
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,115
Likes: 51,405
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Today it's mostly bad metallurgy and corner cutting hardening with the components, lift are just one of many items suffering from this problem and it's spread across many mechanical applications not just harleys. Cam choice and riding habits don't help and personally I don't think the current synthetic oils are up to it. It's great for most other engine wear & lube points but crank pins and lifter rollers are getting abused hard. We lost the the occasional roller in the shovels, come the evo, multi weight and synthetic oil, lifter problems became regular thing, see more of it every engine generation
totally agree, I think even the ebay sold ones that say they are OEM are 2nd run or the "blems" that didn't make the cut, and the cut itself is not that great haha!
__________________
The best AMERICAN MADE products you can get! Innovation, quality and the piece of mind that you are buying from a company that CARES if their customers are satisfied!
https://head-hoggers-1312.myshopify.com
The best AMERICAN MADE products you can get! Innovation, quality and the piece of mind that you are buying from a company that CARES if their customers are satisfied!
https://head-hoggers-1312.myshopify.com
Today it's mostly bad metallurgy and corner cutting hardening with the components, lift are just one of many items suffering from this problem and it's spread across many mechanical applications not just harleys. Cam choice and riding habits don't help and personally I don't think the current synthetic oils are up to it. It's great for most other engine wear & lube points but crank pins and lifter rollers are getting abused hard. We lost the the occasional roller in the shovels, come the evo, multi weight and synthetic oil, lifter problems became regular thing, see more of it every engine generation
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,146
Likes: 12,713
From: South Carolina
probably true as well..
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,115
Likes: 51,405
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Even reputable vendors get had, Hell they are hustling counterfeit Blue Streak points now, packaging and box look legit. Inside, fake as a strippers smile
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 1,618
From: TX
I definitely agree about the synthetic oils. We suggest NOT using synthetic in ANY of our builds because it simply loses viscosity when it gets hot. Another point about synthetic oils is they do not transfer heat as well as a Dino oil does, so in your oil cooled bike, it makes it run hotter thus breaking down the oil even worse.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,673
Likes: 2,079
From: Massachusetts
I definitely agree about the synthetic oils. We suggest NOT using synthetic in ANY of our builds because it simply loses viscosity when it gets hot. Another point about synthetic oils is they do not transfer heat as well as a Dino oil does, so in your oil cooled bike, it makes it run hotter thus breaking down the oil even worse.
https://autooilandfluid.com/the-real...ventional-oil/
Last edited by jake24lt; Sep 24, 2025 at 07:35 AM.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,146
Likes: 12,713
From: South Carolina
More failures every generation, but Shovels weren`t putting out the crazy horsepower numbers that the TC`s and M8`s are seeing.
The late model lifter failures may be rare, but common enough that I get rid of OEM lifters as soon as a machine is out of warranty.
I disagree with the idea that lifter roller failures (or any other component for that matter) are the result of synthetic oil.
Quality US made lifters are not failing, it`s the imported junk lifters (OEM TC-M8) that are failing.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Sep 24, 2025 at 08:23 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,146
Likes: 12,713
From: South Carolina
Junk Science
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Sep 24, 2025 at 08:29 AM.
