Hydraulic Lifter Leaking Down Overnight...
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 95
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Hydraulic Lifter Leaking Down Overnight...
Took my 2018 Road Glide Ultra to my dealer and left overnight so they can start it cold the next morning. It sounds terrible until it the failing lifter pumps up, then all sounds normal and bike runs great. Dealer says that HD won't warranty lifter replacement for me unless the sound is continuous. Is this true, or is this typical dealer BS because of the slim profit in warranty work?
Last edited by JaboIam; Jul 11, 2019 at 09:16 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 433
From: Menifee, CA
Yeah that is bad. My 2018 RGU doesn’t do anything like that. Every so often on cold start, it will tick similarly, but only for a few revs of the motor. Maybe two seconds, no more. My 2016 103 was the same. Once in awhile and only for a second or two. Yeah, I’d be po’d if a dealer shop shrugged me off like that.
Banned
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 101
Likes: 33
From: USA
You don't really know if it is a bad lifter or not. It sounds like a lifter that is not pumping up, but it could be something else like a bad oil pump that is not sending enough oil pressure to the lifter. At the very least I would want them to check the oil pressure upon startup. If you had a good dealer he would want you to be a happy customer. It sounds like he is laying road blocks in front of you. He can open it up and without much effort narrow down the clatter. You don't want the lifter fixed, you want the clatter stopped. If they give you much static walk out and drive to another dealer who wants to fix the clatter.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,003
From: Charleston, SC
Call the Harley Customer Service line at: 1 (800) 258-2464 and tell them about the issue. They will more than likely instruct the dealer (or another dealer) to take it apart and see what's up.
Banned
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 167
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From: US
Yeah that is bad. My 2018 RGU doesnt do anything like that. Every so often on cold start, it will tick similarly, but only for a few revs of the motor. Maybe two seconds, no more. My 2016 103 was the same. Once in awhile and only for a second or two. Yeah, Id be pod if a dealer shop shrugged me off like that.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,674
Likes: 11,463
From: State of Confusion
they all do that! my engine has always been quiet and free from any abnormal engines noises clod or hot fortunately..maybe the HD 360 oil helps and not going the full 5000 miles on it..dunno'
"The hydraulic lifters are self-adjusting. They automatically adjust length to compensate for engine expansion and valve mechanism wear. This keeps the valve mechanism free of lash when the engine is running.
When starting an engine which has been turned off even for a few minutes, the valve mechanism may be slightly noisy until the hydraulic units completely refill with oil. If at any time the valve mechanism becomes abnormally noisy, other than for a short period immediately after engine is started, it is an indication that one or more of the hydraulic units may not be functioning properly.
Always check the engine oil level first since normal circulation of oil through the engine is necessary for proper operation of the hydraulic lifters.
If engine oil is at the proper level, the lifters may not be functioning properly because of dirt in the oil supply passages leading to the lifter units. See a Harley-Davidson dealer for service."
"The hydraulic lifters are self-adjusting. They automatically adjust length to compensate for engine expansion and valve mechanism wear. This keeps the valve mechanism free of lash when the engine is running.
When starting an engine which has been turned off even for a few minutes, the valve mechanism may be slightly noisy until the hydraulic units completely refill with oil. If at any time the valve mechanism becomes abnormally noisy, other than for a short period immediately after engine is started, it is an indication that one or more of the hydraulic units may not be functioning properly.
Always check the engine oil level first since normal circulation of oil through the engine is necessary for proper operation of the hydraulic lifters.
If engine oil is at the proper level, the lifters may not be functioning properly because of dirt in the oil supply passages leading to the lifter units. See a Harley-Davidson dealer for service."
Last edited by mjwebb; Jul 12, 2019 at 05:41 AM.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 459
Likes: 35
From: Mission canada
18 SG with 20000 miles lifters started to make a racket st cold start up and occasionaly after bike was shut off for 30 min, took a sound clip to the dealer and had them listen to it. They booked me in the following week and the lifters were replaced. The new ones still are loud on start up but quites down after 5 seconds or so the other ones would last almost a minute.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,453
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Harley has a LONG history of junk lifters, 5 separate engine designs now and they are still dicking the dog with them.
OP you need to see the general manager of the dealership and bend his ear a bit not the service desk drones.
OP you need to see the general manager of the dealership and bend his ear a bit not the service desk drones.
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