Is there anyway to check the Oil Pressure Relief Valve without just replacing it ? I have changed the lifters and pushrods and still have too much clatter on the top end for my liking always sounds like its really low on oil.

 

Feuling makes an Oil Pressure Bypass Valve tool that you can check the performance of it out, you will need an air compressor, I also think you have to pull the camplate.

If you really think it is the valve(which I have been told by an indy that they are pretty reliable), you could just replace the spring and plunger with the cam plate still installed.

My bet is if you are getting noise after replacing lifters and prs - might have to reassess your pr adjustment, maybe adjust them a little deeper into the lifters. I am assuming you have ran the engine for awhile now, sometimes it can take a pretty long time to get the lifters pumped up.

 

How much preload did you give your lifters?

 

Just couple of things for the OP to consider.

1. If the pushrods are not adjustable, factory tolerances could easily be the explanation for the valve train noise; replacing them with adjustable should help.

2. Remove the relief valve spring/plunger (you can do this without removing the cam plate). If the plunger drops out of the bore, it is probably working just fine.

3. If the bike is the 2001 in your avatar, replace the OEM spring with the Baisley spring for a bit of increase in oil pressure.

4. What lifters did you install?

 

S&S adjustable PR 32tpi adjusted to 27 flats (4.5 turns) unfortunately cheap lifters for now. Have about 250 miles on it since then and still sounds like its not getting oil to the top. Oil pressure is 10 when at full temp at idle and 34 at 2500 rpm. But still has a hell of a racket up top like its low on oil or not getting any. Im gonna replace the primary shoe and the timing tensioner shoe soon (couple weeks or so) I know that's not the cause but they are due

And it is the 2001 in my sig just over 26,000 miles

 

If you were not having noises prior to the pr install, then I think the problem lies in the pr adjustment, or maybe a bad lifter.

Did you make certain that you were at TDC Compression when you made your adjustment?

Maybe an pr adjustment nut cam loose?

Maybe a bad lifter? You said they were cheap ones.

 

Had the noise before, it did get a little better but still louder than it should be even for a Harley.
Adjustments are right and all nuts still tight and yeah was at TDC all push rods feel the same while spinning them by hand at TDC.
I plan on checking everything for a third time since im off for the next 5 days. I might swap lifters 1 at a time with an old one and see if that helps, wont cost anything and I love wrenching on her lol

 

Be sure to post if you find something, we are all learning here - good luck!

 

Before the springs or shims were on the market, we were manufacturing a .200" 6061-T6 aluminum shim to increase spring pressure/oil pressure.
Now that Zippers offers them, and for some time now, we just buy them (by the bag)from them.
They work great.
Scott

 

Hey Scott what would you check next if you changed the lifters and push rods and they were adjusted right but still have the lifter clatter noise. My oil pressure seems normal from everything ive read. Im trying to stay away from taking it to a dealer and paying them a fortune just to look at it.

Pushrods are S&S push rods are at 27 flats should I go 1-2 more flats on each, Im not sure how much more room there is and I dont want to hit a piston.