Had my bike in at my local stealership to have the tappets replaced over the winter as one was leaking down. Bike sat for 3 years so I figured it was to be expected. Over this weekend one started tapping again after sitting overnight but only for a second or two, just enough time for it to pump back up. Starting the rest of the day is fine. Brand new tappets leaking down after only 2000 miles? Bike is a 01 ultra with only 25,000 on it. Had the upgraded oil pump and cam chain tensioner installed along with new 203 cams.

 

Stock or adjustable pushrods? New lifters from the dealer=C lifters. Junk. I had them in my 04 and they were noisy on startup. Replaced them with SS standard lifters set at .140 deep. Nice and quiet now

 

Normal.

It even states in the owners manual that they may be noisy for a Few seconds. It's if it doesn't go away that would indicate a problem. The oil pump has to pump a very thick cold 20W50 into all the little oil passages...

 

Right on.
Scott

 

I have a 2012 that "had" the same issue. Since it was under warranty I took it to my dealer. After having the lifters checked out and everything being fine, the master tech at the dealer asked if I was using synthetic oil. I was using Amsoil. He suggested not using synthetic so I switched over to conventional Harley oil and presto! Lifter noise gone.

 

Semi-same scenarios here as well.
While the thin synthetics protect very well, lifter hydrology is compromised.
Scott

 

Last week under the advice of a Harley tech I switched back to standard Harley engine oil from the Harley synthetic. Now the tappng has started. The push rods are stock and the stealership installed Harley tappets. I dont agree with a normal tapping noise at start up. Car engines do not do that on start up and they both use hydrolic lifters. They should not bleed down overnight.

 

Actually the lifters bleed down in about 10 minutes. When installing cams and/or adjustable push rods, you need to wait that long to move on to the next push rod to adjust it, as the valve would still be open if you don't. However, they should pump up in few seconds after cold start up. If not you may still have a weak or bad lifter. Adjustable push rods will most likely not solve your problem. Inside the lifter there is about 1/4" of area that the push rods needs to be in. That quit a bit of tolerance for the push rod length.

 

This is exactly what we have subcribed to here, for quite some time now.
Have preached this across the interweb in hopes of helping folks that will take advantage of this info.
S&S Premium lifters, S&S pushrods, loading the lifter to 140-.150", the correct viscosity oil per ambient air temps(yes, 50W, and even 60W are refered to) per the HD Service Manuals, and in the pre-hydraulic cam plates, we install a Zippers oil pressure shim.
VERY little noise, if any, on most occasions.
Scott