Hello,

I have a 2003 XLH 1200 Sportster and I dont know much about mechanics. But my logic tells me that the valves need to be adjust from time to time. Some people say that they dont need adjustment. Is this true or is it false. I hear like valve sounds when I open the throttle.

Please help me....Thanks

 

EVO Sportsters have hydraulic lifters. No adjustments are necessary. You are likely hearing pinging when you roll on the gas.

 

No valve adjustments required.......just like most cars these days, the lifters pump up with oil and takes up any slack in the valve train......Now if a lifter is worn , or if it bleeds down due to dirt or grime, it may not pump up properly, or it may take a few minutes to pump up...If you have a bad lifter, the noise will be pretty loud......Much louder than the typical light tick, tick sound that you normally hear from your engine and the noise will continue even after the engines warmed up. ......Keeping good clean engine oil in your bike, will usually keep your lifters in good working order for a very long time......60 thousand miles, even 100 thousand miles is not unheard of at all.....LUGGING a motor though can certainly cause premature wear to alot of your engine componets.....Good luck to you .

 

Evo sportsters have hydrolic lifters, no need to adjust them. What you are hearing is detonation. What grade gas do you use? Maybe time for a tune up?