Hey guys. Looked at a 97 softail custom today. 20,000 miles and very clean and good price. Bike runs and starts like a top. No smoke or oil leaks. Nothing. Question is that you can hear an obvious ticking from the rocker boxes. Is this just a valve adjustment needed? I planned to pop a cam in it if i got it. So I guess I could just pull the heads at the same time and do that. Wanted to check first.

 

Mine sounds like a bloody jackhammer between 2250 and 2900rpm. It's noisier than my shovel ever was. Hasn't seemed to hurt anything.

 

i hear you. I am just being very picky since I have not pulled the trigger yet.

 

If you are going to put a cam in it, don't worry about the tick with 20,000 on it, the rockers should be ok. A good set of lifters, adjustable push tubes and you will get it out, don't need to pull the heads to do what your wanting to do either.

 

Yep yep yep , that'll do it.

 

Yeah I was going to do adjustable pushrods and cut the old ones out. Didn't even think about the lifters. Thanks guys. It is a good running bike. Of course I am about to go look at yet another one. I hate looking around so much but want to make the right decision.

 

There is no "right" decision only an emotional response to one or other of the bikes....that is the one you buy and you can't help yourself! ;-)