you should go back 10 years
that would really strengthen your point

 

i did on a 70 sportster about 25 years ago. i heard a click sound when i kicked the bike over, i dont mean i kicked it over on the ground, anyway i found out the roller bearings had gone bad so i went to the local shop and got the kit, think it was under $20.00, new pin and roller with bearings. as i remember it was pretty easy to install and never had any problems with it, or any of the other lifters. i forget how the pin is held in, weather it screws in or press but again it wasnt very to do.

 

Where can a guy get Evo lifters for $50?

 

First welcome to the Forum.
Second start a new thread for a new question.
Third try e-bay.

 

BTW I have a set that looked good when I replaced them.
I replaced them more for the hell of it than anything else.

If you are interested shoot me a PM.

 

in the shop we have a special tool to replace rollers and still do not often on an evo, but all the early bikes is the way its done and they are different in the size, the evos are bigger

 

Could be done, if you do have the tools to press out the old pins, and peen the new retainer pin in place.
Roller/pin kits are around $20 on ebay (although would not trust the pins to hold up long term), and add in another $20 to replace the check ball and lower springs during the rebuild as well.

Or you can just use Johnson standard 2303 lifters for around $180 for 4, and don't have to worry about a bad pin peen job coming apart, or short life of some imported needle bearings instead.

 

Harley wants $83.49 per…

 

As stared, you can get a set of standard Johnson b2303's for around $180, or the slow leak down versions for $250 from Larry.

Hence at one time, its was Johnson that was making HD lifters, and due to patents when Delphi started making them for Harley instead, had to go to a different design.

As for a decent roller rebuild kit like SS that you could trust the needle bearings and rollers to begin with, your looking at over $120 (f you can find one that fits the body pin channel size), then still have to source the ball and plunger springs to replace them during the rebuilds; that is if you don't have rust or corrosion problems on the lifter plunger or bodies.

So for the price to rebuild a HD evo stock lifter and trust it, your already into the price of just buying the standard Johnson B2303 lifters isntead. As for the old solid lifters, it was just the roller and ball that you have to replace that would wear out, so not comparing apples to apples on those and evo tappets.

As for the oem HD 18622-85B, it's a good lifter that will outlast the older A lifters, but that is a hell of lot of HD badging mark up on a imported lifter to start with.

And one last thing, if the rollers and needle bearing as still in great conditions , then maybe it just time to pull the lifters apart to give them a good petrol cleaning. Hence sludge can build up under the check ball/under the plunger over time, and if the lower check ball is sludge wedged open, lifter is never going to pump up/stay pumped up.