S&S Lifter Failed - Replace with what??
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,402
Likes: 2,638
From: Milwaukee, WI
Since you are not doing the build yourself, I would ask your builder.
16 months and many thousands of miles on a big engine kit no less, why would you think they owe you a warranty? We dont build this **** to putt to the grocery store, its meant to provide performance and higher HP costs money and also breaks ****.
366 days and 900 miles maybe, if you never took it past 55 mph, but 12500 miles? S&S has built a reputation for high quality, and probably the oldest hipo continuously operating Harley supplier out there.
My only guess, it was built right cause you did get a lot miles, but maybe a burnout contest or some other hooliganism, on old oil and poof.
16 months and many thousands of miles on a big engine kit no less, why would you think they owe you a warranty? We dont build this **** to putt to the grocery store, its meant to provide performance and higher HP costs money and also breaks ****.
366 days and 900 miles maybe, if you never took it past 55 mph, but 12500 miles? S&S has built a reputation for high quality, and probably the oldest hipo continuously operating Harley supplier out there.
My only guess, it was built right cause you did get a lot miles, but maybe a burnout contest or some other hooliganism, on old oil and poof.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 543
From: MN
An experienced builder member (can't recall who) said many of those lifters are overpriced, I'm guessing because of low sales volumes. If price doesn't matter to you, then somebody with race experience can answer.
Price mattered to me, I went with recommended VThunder, which is a brand from Comp Cams, and used in GM LS engines, therefore good pricing ~$80. Not heard of any inherent design or quality problems with these on GM LS engines (problems elsewhere on those engines).
Price mattered to me, I went with recommended VThunder, which is a brand from Comp Cams, and used in GM LS engines, therefore good pricing ~$80. Not heard of any inherent design or quality problems with these on GM LS engines (problems elsewhere on those engines).
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 3,182
Likes: 2,225
From: College Station, TX
Second Johnson Hylift from WFO Larry2313SE lifters with pin oiling.
http://www.larrysmotorcyclemachine.com/lifters.html
Paul
http://www.larrysmotorcyclemachine.com/lifters.html
Paul
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 592
Likes: 481
From: SE PA
Sorry for your misfortune, it totally sucks. I've had a few issues over the years with aftermarket parts that have put me in similar situations, unfortunately.
Call S&S, hit the number for the tech line and ask for Bob (or leave VM asking for Bob). I had a concern with the deck finish on their M8 big bore kits and he brought it up to mgmt during one of their stand-up meetings. He has done right by me more than once. I would not fault you for not wanting to use those lifters again, but if you speak to the right person it won't go on def ears and they will inspect the lifters. If they inspect the lifters and agree they are at fault, I would push the envelope a bit to see if they will help out in any way with the costs you are enduring due to this. Speaking from experience (not with S&S), I've been compensated for labor, parts, consumables more than once when I pushed hard enough. They could also conclude that too much preload was on the one lifter hence causing this, which is entirely possible among other things. It's a tough thing to diagnose.
Call S&S, hit the number for the tech line and ask for Bob (or leave VM asking for Bob). I had a concern with the deck finish on their M8 big bore kits and he brought it up to mgmt during one of their stand-up meetings. He has done right by me more than once. I would not fault you for not wanting to use those lifters again, but if you speak to the right person it won't go on def ears and they will inspect the lifters. If they inspect the lifters and agree they are at fault, I would push the envelope a bit to see if they will help out in any way with the costs you are enduring due to this. Speaking from experience (not with S&S), I've been compensated for labor, parts, consumables more than once when I pushed hard enough. They could also conclude that too much preload was on the one lifter hence causing this, which is entirely possible among other things. It's a tough thing to diagnose.
Last edited by MattLS6; Aug 23, 2023 at 08:40 AM.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 837
Likes: 8
From: Wyoming
You have already made it clear you are an S&S fanboy. I have too have enjoyed the company's products over the years. However, as much as they advertise the superiority of their parts, they should last longer than 12,500 miles. This is a touring bike. 12,500 miles in 16 months is just getting started. I don't race, I don't dump the clutch, I don't over rev the engine. Frankly, I'm a fairly docile rider. If, as you say, "it was just bad luck," S&S should cover it.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 592
Likes: 481
From: SE PA
Did the shop find actual small pieces/chunks of metal or very fine metal dust? Curious if they are splitting the cases to clean everything out or removing jugs to inspect the piston skirts and cylinder walls for damage? When metal went through the motor of my Sportster I was fishing it out of my cases.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 4,798
Likes: 5,889
From: Knoxville
I don't know enough to know what difference each variable makes (i.e., short vs. normal length and standard vs. over sized). I fully intend to discuss the differences with my mechanic by I prefer to go into that conversation with some knowledge and understanding.
You have already made it clear you are an S&S fanboy. I have too have enjoyed the company's products over the years. However, as much as they advertise the superiority of their parts, they should last longer than 12,500 miles. This is a touring bike. 12,500 miles in 16 months is just getting started. I don't race, I don't dump the clutch, I don't over rev the engine. Frankly, I'm a fairly docile rider. If, as you say, "it was just bad luck," S&S should cover it.
You have already made it clear you are an S&S fanboy. I have too have enjoyed the company's products over the years. However, as much as they advertise the superiority of their parts, they should last longer than 12,500 miles. This is a touring bike. 12,500 miles in 16 months is just getting started. I don't race, I don't dump the clutch, I don't over rev the engine. Frankly, I'm a fairly docile rider. If, as you say, "it was just bad luck," S&S should cover it.
Their warranty and any warranty is the life expectancy. Thats guaranteed.
You have made it clear you dont understand machines and mechanics.
I asked you why you cant decide and your other butthurt response is to know what your vaunted builder knows and will recommend. But your knowledge will be interwebs forum based responses.
You will gain some insights, but knowledge? Do your own learning and never rely on some horse hockey you read on the interwebs.
Your best bet is to talk with your builder.
Drop the What S&S should do as they nor any other business takes what a one off recipient of what is bad luck, or an anomaly to maintain their reputation.
Its posted, at end of the day, not really bad luck, you got some miles out of a performance motor.
I never not chuckle reading about cam installs and what have you on perfectly fine motors on perfectly fine running machines, mainly Harleys, as my wisdom/experience is to take a project, something trashed but rebuildable to make performance.
Despite tech advancements, theres a reason why, say your weekend quarter mile machines are not daily drivers. Is there room to cam up a bike or anything to get some sound or a slight performance gain? Sure but know its not a given it will run to stock reliability. Exceptions abound but not a normal thing. And I bet those have S&S parts.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 837
Likes: 8
From: Wyoming
Since you are not doing the build yourself, I would ask your builder.
16 months and many thousands of miles on a big engine kit no less, why would you think they owe you a warranty? We dont build this **** to putt to the grocery store, its meant to provide performance and higher HP costs money and also breaks ****.
366 days and 900 miles maybe, if you never took it past 55 mph, but 12500 miles? S&S has built a reputation for high quality, and probably the oldest hipo continuously operating Harley supplier out there.
My only guess, it was built right cause you did get a lot miles, but maybe a burnout contest or some other hooliganism, on old oil and poof.
16 months and many thousands of miles on a big engine kit no less, why would you think they owe you a warranty? We dont build this **** to putt to the grocery store, its meant to provide performance and higher HP costs money and also breaks ****.
366 days and 900 miles maybe, if you never took it past 55 mph, but 12500 miles? S&S has built a reputation for high quality, and probably the oldest hipo continuously operating Harley supplier out there.
My only guess, it was built right cause you did get a lot miles, but maybe a burnout contest or some other hooliganism, on old oil and poof.
I fully intend to discuss the differences with my mechanic, but I prefer to go into that conversation with some knowledge and understanding.
No burnouts, no clutch dumping, no hooliganism whatsoever. Oil and filter have been changed regularly and in fact all three holes were changed just under 3,000 miles before this happened. Yes, I have the paperwork documenting this.
Since when is 12,500 miles high mileage? One of the reasons I replaced so many stock parts with S&S parts was to ensure something like this did not happen.