bad lifter?
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: Beaver, OK. (No mans land)
I'm glad you discovered this with the pushrods. I was going to post here that you should remove the maddog rods because they are junk I had the same thing happen to me and did discover that valve train was noisier with maddog pushrods not sure why but when I removed mine and went with a more popular set everything was much more quiet. 
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 1
From: S.W. Florida
Glad to hear that the cheap "Maddog" pushrods were the problem. Just a word of advice, the SE lifters were made by Jim's when they were having problems and still may. When winter happens, replace those lifters with a good reliable set. I have yet to hear of an S&S or V-Thunder lifter failure, some with the HD B's. Alot depends upon the cam profile and lift.
I originally purchased a complete SE lifter block and lifter set from HD that is now obsolete. I had to have the blocks honed as they were full of chrome and supplied SE lifters would not fit. Blocks are still good and on the bike now after three sets of lifters. Got rid of the SE's, installed V-Thunders (no problems with them) and just installed a set of S&S lifters with the new cam change. The VT tech rep advised that the lifters did not need to be changed. But everything went in new and I kept the original parts for spares.
I originally purchased a complete SE lifter block and lifter set from HD that is now obsolete. I had to have the blocks honed as they were full of chrome and supplied SE lifters would not fit. Blocks are still good and on the bike now after three sets of lifters. Got rid of the SE's, installed V-Thunders (no problems with them) and just installed a set of S&S lifters with the new cam change. The VT tech rep advised that the lifters did not need to be changed. But everything went in new and I kept the original parts for spares.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 1
From: S.W. Florida
Tell Rufus I'll supply the beer and if he behaves a gorilla biscuit or two if I can find those old tool bags That 18 pk is to consumed before this project is attempted Maybe that's why I adjusted the lifters at the top of the cam !! Haven't heard from Rufus is he back in rehab !!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,080
Likes: 2,154
From: Ohio
Yes, the Maddog stuff doesn't have a good name, read about some major failures with their lifters coming apart. I used the SE quick installs due to my Harley rewards program paid for them but not thrilled of the difficulty of adjusting them so I will pass that on.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Thanks for all the feedback about the Maddog stuff. Wish I would have know that before I bought them... should have done my research. I don't think the rod was the cause of the noise, but it may have been contributing to it because that rod showed signs of hitting the inside of the tube. For now I have only replaced the one rod. I'll wait for some cold, rainy day to do the rest.
1997bagger, I'm curious about the exhaust that you have on your bike. It looks like a 2 into 1 system but it looks like there is a muffler on the left side too. Is that there just to maintain the dual-exhaust look?
1997bagger, I'm curious about the exhaust that you have on your bike. It looks like a 2 into 1 system but it looks like there is a muffler on the left side too. Is that there just to maintain the dual-exhaust look?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,080
Likes: 2,154
From: Ohio
Thanks for all the feedback about the Maddog stuff. Wish I would have know that before I bought them... should have done my research. I don't think the rod was the cause of the noise, but it may have been contributing to it because that rod showed signs of hitting the inside of the tube. For now I have only replaced the one rod. I'll wait for some cold, rainy day to do the rest.
1997bagger, I'm curious about the exhaust that you have on your bike. It looks like a 2 into 1 system but it looks like there is a muffler on the left side too. Is that there just to maintain the dual-exhaust look?
I built a ghost pipe out of a Pro Pipe muffler and origional HD crossover pipe, cut the left pipe out of the right pipe and clamped it to the 2-1 system, it's a personal thing to have a dual pipe look. I have a set of Rinehart TD's hanging in the garage that by far look and sound better but can't get past the runability advantage of the 2-1 Pro Pipe.
6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Split time between OKC & Northern Idaho
I think I'll need an 18 pack by the time I have my clatter figured out. Replaced the INI bearing some time back, lifter at the same time. Had a distict ticking noise at the time that didn't change, with the new push rods and lifters. I hear it wth my ear on either side and can't tell if it's high or low. After a ride as far as Tenn with the RFTW crowd, and another out to Colorado springs, the noise is worse, if anything. Sounds like a lifter but you have the story. So now, I have new backfiring that may or may not be related and am about to get up and get that beer. Not much to go on when the sound can be coming from the gear box or the rocker box. I need to buy somebody a case who is a whole lot better at isolating this than me.
Regarding the backfiring: any clues as to why all the sudden. Milage was consistently 40+ riding two up and no backfiring on the trip to speak of. Plugs look a little on the light side across the ground strap but the base ring would indicate that it's running rich, being pretty dark. I have a PCIII but have not made changes since installing. FI and pipes remain the same. I'm scratching my noggin.
Regarding the backfiring: any clues as to why all the sudden. Milage was consistently 40+ riding two up and no backfiring on the trip to speak of. Plugs look a little on the light side across the ground strap but the base ring would indicate that it's running rich, being pretty dark. I have a PCIII but have not made changes since installing. FI and pipes remain the same. I'm scratching my noggin.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 12
From: Bluffton, South Carolina
On the backfiring, it sounds like your ignition is shutting off momentarily. Check all your electrical connections and grounds to ensure that they are tight and not shorting out, and don't forget your plug wires/covers for the spark plug area. After that then it's time to diagnose your ignition system proper. Hope this helps
6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Split time between OKC & Northern Idaho
Bad Lifters
On the backfiring, it sounds like your ignition is shutting off momentarily. Check all your electrical connections and grounds to ensure that they are tight and not shorting out, and don't forget your plug wires/covers for the spark plug area. After that then it's time to diagnose your ignition system proper. Hope this helps