Replace Lifters?

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Jan 29, 2019 | 09:08 PM

#11

Dynamick

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Joined: Feb 2013

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From: Edmonton, Alberta

Quote:

Originally Posted by grbrown

I've owned Harleys for over 40 years and only ever replaced one lifter. I have a dozen of 'em at present (lifters!) and am not about to replace any of them unnecessarily. Where have you read about them blowing up?

Forum member Lauren had a lifter failure take out the engine on her Fat Boy S w/110. And she's far from the only one.

Jan 29, 2019 | 09:12 PM

#12

tjcaron

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Joined: Aug 2012

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From: NH - Live Free or Die

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dynamick

Forum member Lauren had a lifter failure take out the engine on her Fat Boy S w/110. And she's far from the only one.

i think hers was the story I read that really made me start to think about replacing them.

Anyways, I’m doing it. I also said f*** it and am gonna do cams and pushrods while I’ve got it torn apart.

Jan 29, 2019 | 09:51 PM

#13

Bgill

Road Master

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 1,010

Likes: 101

From: Parrish, Florida

CVO 110's are notorious for lifter failure due to high spring pressure in combo with the aggressive ramps of the stock 255 cams.

I recently had a lifter start to squeal when hot in traffic at 11k miles so I immediately swapped to the Johnson Hylift lifters mentioned above.

Be sure to get the B2313"SE" version which can be had as low as $110 per set of 4 on HTT.

Also my understanding is S&S is simply a rebranded product so the extra mark-up gets you absolutely nothing but covers their profit margin.

Last edited by Bgill; Jan 29, 2019 at 09:54 PM.

Jan 30, 2019 | 05:59 AM

#14

09 YELLOWBIRD

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 3,932

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From: SOON TO BE A SAFE AMERICA

Anything but stock HD lifter.

Johnson, S&S, GMR, Fueling, Woods, etc, etc.

Unless you still have a ESP, your kinda screwed.

YB

Jan 30, 2019 | 06:41 AM

#15

30glock

Road Warrior

Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 1,630

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From: PA

Definitely do it, mine failed at 24K it took out the 585 cam and oil pump, and some other goodies, 2K in damages covered by ESP but I had the S&S put in, problem solved.

Jan 30, 2019 | 10:17 AM

#16

hattitude

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 14,143

Likes: 11,214

From: San Diego, CA

With a Twin Cam engine, I won't make a special trip into the cam chest to change lifters, but if I'm in there for any reason, I replace the lifters AND the inner cam bearings. They are both weak points that have (albeit not in huge numbers) caused failures that can/will be expensive.

With the lifters, anything other than HD "C" lifters will be fine. I never heard a complaint about S&S lifters, but I'm partial to Johnson Hylift, from WFO Larry.

http://www.larrysmotorcyclemachine.com/lifters.html

I use either the 2313SE or newer style 842 SE.

I also always replace the inner cam bearings. The OEM "INA" brand bearings are 23 loose bearings held in place by a cage. There have been some catastrophic failures with these bearings. They can be replaced by Torrington (now called Toyo-Torrington) bearings. They have 31 captive needle bearings, a superior design to the INA bearings.

The bearings are pretty cheap and easy to replace, but you need to buy/rent/borrow a tool for the job. Off the top of my head, I believe you will need B-168 bearings, but double check the number.

Good luck with the work, these twin cams are actually pretty easy, and for me fun, to work on....

Last edited by hattitude; Jan 30, 2019 at 10:19 AM.

Jan 30, 2019 | 02:21 PM

#17

tjcaron

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Joined: Aug 2012

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From: NH - Live Free or Die

Quote:

Originally Posted by hattitude

I also always replace the inner cam bearings. The OEM "INA" brand bearings are 23 loose bearings held in place by a cage. There have been some catastrophic failures with these bearings. They can be replaced by Torrington (now called Toyo-Torrington) bearings. They have 31 captive needle bearings, a superior design to the INA bearings.

The bearings are pretty cheap and easy to replace, but you need to buy/rent/borrow a tool for the job. Off the top of my head, I believe you will need B-168 bearings, but double check the number.

Good luck with the work, these twin cams are actually pretty easy, and for me fun, to work on....

That's good to know, thanks.

I ordered the Wood TW-7H cam kit from Fuel Moto. Will come with the Wood lifters and FM adjustable pushrods. Your post made me go back and look...it also comes with the bearings. Guess I need to find that tool...