Bad lifter?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 125
Likes: 91
From: Tullahoma TN
Bad lifter?
Please bear with me, this is my first bike with hydraulic lifters.....
Since I replaced the cam in my '99 I seem to have a persistent 'tick' coming from the exhaust valve on my front cylinder. I've checked, re-checked & triple checked my valve lash & pushrod adjustment & I'm 100% sure they're correct.
I'm only getting the noise from this one rod/tappet/valve (it's definitely at the top end) & it's more noticeable as the bike warms up. Pretty much silent for the first 4 or 5 miles, but then it becomes noticeable. It doesn't seem to get any louder though, whether at mile 10 or 150. There's no smoke, & no loss of power, so I'm pretty sure the valve itself is ok.
I cut the original rods & installed adjustables, so I haven't touched inside the top end.
The only thing I can think of is that maybe the lifter has gone bad? I have no clue how that would show itself though. Again, no experience with them.
It's under 25,000 miles from new & everything was quiet until I switched cams (Factory 'N' grind to EV23)
Since I replaced the cam in my '99 I seem to have a persistent 'tick' coming from the exhaust valve on my front cylinder. I've checked, re-checked & triple checked my valve lash & pushrod adjustment & I'm 100% sure they're correct.
I'm only getting the noise from this one rod/tappet/valve (it's definitely at the top end) & it's more noticeable as the bike warms up. Pretty much silent for the first 4 or 5 miles, but then it becomes noticeable. It doesn't seem to get any louder though, whether at mile 10 or 150. There's no smoke, & no loss of power, so I'm pretty sure the valve itself is ok.
I cut the original rods & installed adjustables, so I haven't touched inside the top end.
The only thing I can think of is that maybe the lifter has gone bad? I have no clue how that would show itself though. Again, no experience with them.
It's under 25,000 miles from new & everything was quiet until I switched cams (Factory 'N' grind to EV23)
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 942
Likes: 323
From: Grew up in Texas, moved to AZ
You have to pull that lifter and check the rollers for ANY up and down movement. Better be safe than sorry. I lost a motor because I had a valve train noise and I was too lazy to pull the lifters to inspect.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 2,570
From: NC USA
What brand rods did you use? That cam shouldn't cause noise. So it's either the rod or a lifter. Check for rod/cover issues first.
Take the cover loose, remove the rod and cover and look carefully for any rubbing, Usually just above the adjuster and/or the tip top where the rod could hit the cover.
Take the cover loose, remove the rod and cover and look carefully for any rubbing, Usually just above the adjuster and/or the tip top where the rod could hit the cover.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 125
Likes: 91
From: Tullahoma TN
What brand rods did you use? That cam shouldn't cause noise. So it's either the rod or a lifter. Check for rod/cover issues first.
Take the cover loose, remove the rod and cover and look carefully for any rubbing, Usually just above the adjuster and/or the tip top where the rod could hit the cover.
Take the cover loose, remove the rod and cover and look carefully for any rubbing, Usually just above the adjuster and/or the tip top where the rod could hit the cover.
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Joined: Apr 2011
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From: SE Louisiana
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
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Likes: 2,570
From: NC USA
if those are the original lifters and the ones you ordered are cheap, the old ones are better quality.Don't feel bad, you aren't the first to order parts they may not need
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 125
Likes: 91
From: Tullahoma TN
The brand name rods will rub/hit too so no harm no foul. You gotta take the cover off anyway, rotate the engine til the rod goes down, collapse the rod and check it out. Often you can correct that issue.
if those are the original lifters and the ones you ordered are cheap, the old ones are better quality.Don't feel bad, you aren't the first to order parts they may not need
if those are the original lifters and the ones you ordered are cheap, the old ones are better quality.Don't feel bad, you aren't the first to order parts they may not need
I figured that a pushrod is, basically, a pushrod. Once I worked out the thread count & adjusted them, they're basically locked solid anyway.
Last edited by Robtattoo; May 12, 2025 at 10:08 PM.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 125
Likes: 91
From: Tullahoma TN
I had no idea that that was a thing.