Maybe lifters are still fine, or just playing the "its" not a problem, until it really "is" a problem instead.

Worst case by not doing the normal maintenance of replacing the A lifter at the 25K mark that HD sugests, it becomes a Its a major problem, when the Needle bearing plastic cage comes apart on cam bearing from severe lifter knock to the cam , and repair cost to solve the problem, is over the $4k mark when the case has to be split to get cam bearing parts out of it.

Hence the Koyo B138 bearing is the same design used on the early motors, the plastic cage bearing, later motors and known to come apart on it own, as the plastic cage breaks apart from just heat and age.

 

@Dano523
I understand it's good/proper maintenance to replace the lifters, BUT can you please point out where HD suggests the mileage interval is 25K? I haven't found any indication of this in a factory service manual or a technical bulletin.

 

Will need to check in the tsb's/older service manuals, as well the HD internal revision 18523-86B Lifter service/part announcement, since once the B's (late 90's) came into effect to replace the older A's (which came out in 84/86 for XL's), went to longer service life durations with the B lifters.

TSB's ,if anyone want to dig through them.
https://sportsterpedia.com/doku.php/...cres:miscres05

 

I've looked in the past and wasn't able to find it. Keep in mind if there was a TSB in regards to this, the HD factory service manual would have this listed in the "Regular Maintenance Intervals" chart for the years following this type of TSB and if there was an update available for the HD factory service manual, this would be listed in the updated FSM.


Good info. Thanks!