Harley Davidson Forums

EVO All Evo Model Discussion

Tappet Blocks Billet or Cast??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 17, 2018 | 04:40 PM
Share
  #1  
jcsurf's Avatar
jcsurf
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 298
Likes: 12
From: Villa Rica, Georgia
Default Tappet Blocks Billet or Cast??
Getting ready to replace my tappet blocks, is there any advantage to using billet over cast ones? Besides, billet cost twice as much as cast.
 
Reply
0
Old Nov 17, 2018 | 05:33 PM
Share
  #2  
daven9113's Avatar
daven9113
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 942
Likes: 323
From: Grew up in Texas, moved to AZ
Default
As long as the bores are smooth and fitment is good; other than looks, I don't think you would notice the difference, except in your wallet. Show bike or ride bike?
 
Reply
0
Old Nov 17, 2018 | 05:43 PM
Share
  #3  
Racepres's Avatar
Racepres
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,590
Likes: 3,360
From: Cental, MI
Default
My Original cast blocks are at 80k miles... and need bored oversize... think I'll Keep 'em...
 
Reply
0
Old Nov 17, 2018 | 06:04 PM
Share
  #4  
jcsurf's Avatar
jcsurf
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 298
Likes: 12
From: Villa Rica, Georgia
Default
The bike is an everyday rider, 40,000 miles. Doing a little winter fixing up.
 
Reply
0
Old Nov 17, 2018 | 10:14 PM
Share
  #5  
daven9113's Avatar
daven9113
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 942
Likes: 323
From: Grew up in Texas, moved to AZ
Default
Is there a reason you are replacing the tappet blocks? Not a common service replacement item for winter fix ups.
 
Reply
0
Old Nov 17, 2018 | 10:40 PM
Share
  #6  
TwiZted Biker's Avatar
TwiZted Biker
Club Member
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,110
Likes: 51,396
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Default
Cast will wear better and longer than the pretty ones and there's a lot of side load torque on lifters
 
Reply
0
Old Nov 18, 2018 | 04:47 AM
Share
  #7  
jcsurf's Avatar
jcsurf
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 298
Likes: 12
From: Villa Rica, Georgia
Default
The outer front bolt hole corner cracked off, time to replace it.
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Nov 18, 2018 | 04:48 AM
Share
  #8  
jcsurf's Avatar
jcsurf
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 298
Likes: 12
From: Villa Rica, Georgia
Default
On the front one.
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 18, 2018 | 08:24 AM
Share
  #9  
Racepres's Avatar
Racepres
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,590
Likes: 3,360
From: Cental, MI
Default
Originally Posted by jcsurf
The outer front bolt hole corner cracked off, time to replace it.
Hiuh??? Some serious stress to accomplish that ... in fact... Never seen it from "Use" before.
I would find out How/Why before I replace anything!!!
 
Reply
0
Old Nov 18, 2018 | 09:11 AM
Share
  #10  
Kingglide549's Avatar
Kingglide549
Banned
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 4,576
Likes: 978
From: Viet Vet, crossroads
Default
I use S&S being mine was on the loose side.
In the processes of tightening up oil clearances to the valve train, it was a step.
The clearance for the bores in lifter to lifter block is supposed to very small- that is way they get honed to OS, or replaced.
With new lifters, it is "pretty much a "pug " fit.
IDK if S&S are cast, boiled, or what proses they use to make them.
They are bulkier, as I had to grind quite a bit off one to get it to drop in past the cylinder on the rear (I think it was the rear)
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:39 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE