Newby ; 1990 FLT Police .
150000 klms . or 70000 miles .
Question ...
Just getting to know her and have noticed a definate valve train ticking at idle.? Steady tick from upper valve train. Sounds like typical worn or out of specs. rocker to valve adjustment.? How so with the hydraulic tappetts .?

 

Do you only hear it at idle?
EVO's make a ticking sound normally. At speed it sounds like an angry sewing machine.

 

Has the motor ever been into? The lifters are past replacement time. The cam is likely shot as well.

 

Milage is calling for lifters. I put new rockers and shafts last winter and it sounds much better. Mine actuelly sounds pretty good at idle, but then again I've been through it.

 

I just pulled lifters out of my 91 flhtc, has 53k miles. The front lifters sounded like marroccas.

 

What's expected wear for the valvetrain? I've only got 12k, but my FIL's '91 Softie has 31k.

 

Hardly broke in.

 

50K seems to be about what most people get.

 

at 31k?

 

I have about 80K on my top end at this writing. I replaced the lifters and cam bearing at about 50k. She still makes the same ticking and whirring noises she made the first day she was fired up. Still has compression like a new bike.

I change oil and filter every 2,500 miles.