Plastic Lifter cuff failures ?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,790
Likes: 19,651
From: On the move
The plastic tappet cuffs are common in most car engines and I think I read somewhere that even the Corvette uses plastic tappet cuffs. I've never heard of an issue with them on an M8.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 34
Likes: 1
From: South Carolina
Has anyone heard of the plastic Tappet lifter cuffs / guides in the M8 engines which Harley has made of plastic failing and twisting under stress ? This is a bomb just waiting to happen ! You would think the bean counters at Harley would of learned a lesson with all the ruined engines with the Twin Cams and the plastic guide shoe on the cam chain, I guess it saves them a couple of dollars . Really Harley, you have lifter rods pumping up and down and you use a piece of plastic to keep them stable and straight ! I guess I now have to go after market and buy new ones made from billet aluminium and install myself , this will be my last Harley .
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,148
Likes: 6,171
From: SE Michigan
An old thread, and I'm sure the OP has purchased another bike. I hope he's enjoying his BMW. I got yer bomb right here!
Nearly 21,000 BMW Motorcycles Recalled for Possible Fuel Leak - Asphalt & Rubber (asphaltandrubber.com)
Nearly 21,000 BMW Motorcycles Recalled for Possible Fuel Leak - Asphalt & Rubber (asphaltandrubber.com)
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 28
Likes: 6
From: Just past the horizon
Has anyone heard of the plastic Tappet lifter cuffs / guides in the M8 engines which Harley has made of plastic failing and twisting under stress ? This is a bomb just waiting to happen ! You would think the bean counters at Harley would of learned a lesson with all the ruined engines with the Twin Cams and the plastic guide shoe on the cam chain, I guess it saves them a couple of dollars . Really Harley, you have lifter rods pumping up and down and you use a piece of plastic to keep them stable and straight ! I guess I now have to go after market and buy new ones made from billet aluminium and install myself , this will be my last Harley .
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 28
Likes: 6
From: Just past the horizon
And we can safely assume there is a least some plastic being utilized, or will be in the not too distant future.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,593
Likes: 6,435
From: Honah Lee
Has anyone heard of the plastic Tappet lifter cuffs / guides in the M8 engines which Harley has made of plastic failing and twisting under stress ? This is a bomb just waiting to happen ! You would think the bean counters at Harley would of learned a lesson with all the ruined engines with the Twin Cams and the plastic guide shoe on the cam chain, I guess it saves them a couple of dollars . Really Harley, you have lifter rods pumping up and down and you use a piece of plastic to keep them stable and straight ! I guess I now have to go after market and buy new ones made from billet aluminium and install myself , this will be my last Harley .
Add a Signature Line in your USER set up for your bike year, model, and all the letters that Harley recognizes it with so others see at the bottom of all your post. This enables others to know your exact model if you ever ask a question.
And an Avatar of your favorite shot in the USER set up for the small picture others will see in the top left corner of your post.
Can anyone screenshot Ronnie's 2019 Softail Slim fish of the rocker arm and pushrod assembly to get a better idea of the actual part he is referring too?
All I get is internal errors for most of Ronnie's fish on the M8. Older TC areas works fine. My hardware however (phone) is 3 years old. For some users post of Twitter, I don't see the source for that either yet Twitter will work on my phone..
Guess it's this. Tin men are hard at work putting fear in the heart of boys.. Like after a good weekend, hearing from the grapevine Monday morning Betty Lou and Mary were clapping in drama class.
! 
A $9 dollars part from Harley I think.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/304397895087
Last edited by Jackie Paper; May 9, 2022 at 03:13 AM.
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