Brand New Lifter/Tappet preperation?
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2017
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From: CT, USA
Brand New Lifter/Tappet preperation?
Hi All. I'm putting set of Rocker Lockers in my '02 Softail standard so I figured at 33k miles I might as well put in a new set of lifters/tappets.
I bough a set of S&S 33-5350 lifters and normally I would simply soak them in oil. I called S&S tech support and the tech said it doesn't matter if they're full, pumped up or just soaked in oil. He also said it makes no difference if the oil hole in the lifters faces the block or 180* off.
Any advice/opinions for a successful install would be very helpful.
Thanks.
Bob.
I bough a set of S&S 33-5350 lifters and normally I would simply soak them in oil. I called S&S tech support and the tech said it doesn't matter if they're full, pumped up or just soaked in oil. He also said it makes no difference if the oil hole in the lifters faces the block or 180* off.
Any advice/opinions for a successful install would be very helpful.
Thanks.
Bob.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,939
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From: poway
SnS lifters typically have a light oil in them. On thing I like to do is make sure the rollers roll free and I dump a little assembly lube on the needle bearing. I found some lifters where the needle bearing had a crap in them and didn't roll smoothly.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Vermont
The biggest thing you want to be careful about is reinstalling the stock pushrods and torquing the rocker supports down. Make sure you read the manual and have the cylinder youre working on in the appropriate position and wait for bleed down, etc. Also, if youre using the newer stamped breathers from HD, the torque specs are different than what your manual will say. Lastly, make sure you clear the holes of any oil prior to installing and torquing the bolts down as you can inadvertently blow a hole through the bottom. Are you drilling the rocker support oil return hole larger?
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 25
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From: CT, USA
Thanks so much for all of the great information guys.
No Dawg, I didn't drill the rocker support oil return hole.(didn't know it was an option) Basically jus installedt Rocker Lockers and new lifters. I used assembly lube on the lifters, cam lobes and the upper end. After everything was buttoned up I rotated the rear wheel in high gear a few times and listened for any noise. After that I spun the engine over with the spark plugs out about 30 revs. Put the plugs in, fired it up and it's a LOT quieter than before the rocker lockers.
Next I'm going to check the cam chain tensioners for wear as I' may still have some noise that shouldn't be there.
Thanks again all! You guys rock....
No Dawg, I didn't drill the rocker support oil return hole.(didn't know it was an option) Basically jus installedt Rocker Lockers and new lifters. I used assembly lube on the lifters, cam lobes and the upper end. After everything was buttoned up I rotated the rear wheel in high gear a few times and listened for any noise. After that I spun the engine over with the spark plugs out about 30 revs. Put the plugs in, fired it up and it's a LOT quieter than before the rocker lockers.
Next I'm going to check the cam chain tensioners for wear as I' may still have some noise that shouldn't be there.
Thanks again all! You guys rock....
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,727
Likes: 3,073
From: Brighton, MI
Hi All. I'm putting set of Rocker Lockers in my '02 Softail standard so I figured at 33k miles I might as well put in a new set of lifters/tappets.
I bough a set of S&S 33-5350 lifters and normally I would simply soak them in oil. I called S&S tech support and the tech said it doesn't matter if they're full, pumped up or just soaked in oil. He also said it makes no difference if the oil hole in the lifters faces the block or 180* off.
Any advice/opinions for a successful install would be very helpful.
Thanks.
Bob.
I bough a set of S&S 33-5350 lifters and normally I would simply soak them in oil. I called S&S tech support and the tech said it doesn't matter if they're full, pumped up or just soaked in oil. He also said it makes no difference if the oil hole in the lifters faces the block or 180* off.
Any advice/opinions for a successful install would be very helpful.
Thanks.
Bob.
While it really does not matter on direction of the side oil holes, the oil that supplies the lifters comes from the center (or inner part) direction of the engine, so if you point the holes towards the pistons, it is a little shorter of a distance for the oil to reach the lifter holes. Also, soaking them usually does not get the oil in (if you decide to prime them) a better method is a new or clean pump type oil can and pump oil into the side hole of the lifter till oil comes out the top of the lifter. But if you prime them you need to make sure you let them bleed down during install. YD
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: poway
I recently finished a top end rebuild and did not prime my lifters (Johnson Hylifts). It took forever for them to pump up. They would not pump up till I got it on the road for four or 5 miles, and that was AFTER I started the bike up and ran it for 3 or 4 times for a few minutes each time. I was ready to start tearing things apart when guys on here stopped me and told me to go take a ride and this is somewhat "normal" for new/rebuild.
While it really does not matter on direction of the side oil holes, the oil that supplies the lifters comes from the center (or inner part) direction of the engine, so if you point the holes towards the pistons, it is a little shorter of a distance for the oil to reach the lifter holes. Also, soaking them usually does not get the oil in (if you decide to prime them) a better method is a new or clean pump type oil can and pump oil into the side hole of the lifter till oil comes out the top of the lifter. But if you prime them you need to make sure you let them bleed down during install. YD
While it really does not matter on direction of the side oil holes, the oil that supplies the lifters comes from the center (or inner part) direction of the engine, so if you point the holes towards the pistons, it is a little shorter of a distance for the oil to reach the lifter holes. Also, soaking them usually does not get the oil in (if you decide to prime them) a better method is a new or clean pump type oil can and pump oil into the side hole of the lifter till oil comes out the top of the lifter. But if you prime them you need to make sure you let them bleed down during install. YD
On a twin cam the oil flow comes from the cam plate which distributes the oil from the pump to various locations not the engine center case..
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 25
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From: CT, USA
I found it very interesting how ling it took to prime a stock Harley lifter compared to the Fueling brand lifter. Start watching at the 2:45 second mark
Bob..
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Joe Kucinski
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From: poway
I found this video while looking for information about priming lifters.
I found it very interesting how ling it took to prime a stock Harley lifter compared to the Fueling brand lifter. Start watching at the 2:45 second mark
Bob..
I found it very interesting how ling it took to prime a stock Harley lifter compared to the Fueling brand lifter. Start watching at the 2:45 second mark
Bob..
1. The fueling lifter was already primed with lightweight machine oil. The HD lifter had 20w50 weight oil in it as it just came out of the motor. The lighter oil will push out quicker.
2. The fueling lifter likely has pushrod flow configured so more oil flows up the pushrods to the top end. Not all lifters are configured to flow the same. HD B and C lifters are configured to flow less to maintain lower oil temps.
Other stuff. How deep the pushrod sits in the rocker arm makes no difference. Ball end fits in the socket. once that socket gets to say 160 degrees going a full 180 only gets you 3% more area. The roller rocker is built stronger to handle heavy springs. Unless you go to heavy springs and high lift cams they are not necessary.
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 25
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From: CT, USA
It's a bunch of BS designed to sell fueling lifters.
2. The fueling lifter likely has pushrod flow configured so more oil flows up the pushrods to the top end. Not all lifters are configured to flow the same. HD B and C lifters are configured to flow less to maintain lower oil temps.
2. The fueling lifter likely has pushrod flow configured so more oil flows up the pushrods to the top end. Not all lifters are configured to flow the same. HD B and C lifters are configured to flow less to maintain lower oil temps.
I also still have a noise somewhere once the engine warms up. I'm thinking it's either the compensator or the cam chain tighteners.
Thanks.
Bob.
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