Stuck push rod
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 31
Likes: 3
From: Indianapolis
Unfortunately I already bought Screaming Eagle stuff and if I return the stuff I only get store credit.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 302
From: Lorain Ohio
I hope it goes better for you than it did for me. first cylinder took me a while...the intake pushrod wouldn't clear the lifter ridge. I ended up pulling the exhaust lifter an dropping the intake push rod in there, got everything in place an reinstalled the the lifter. I had the rocker boxes off having the heads refreshed so I was p.o'ed I didn't install the push rods while they were off.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,599
Likes: 5,175
From: SWMO
I've read very few complaints about S&S lifters, but I don't use them..... 
I use Johnson Hylift from WFO Larry.... I believe they are a great lifter and can get a set of 4 for around $100.....
http://www.larrysmotorcyclemachine.com/lifters.html
I use Johnson Hylift from WFO Larry.... I believe they are a great lifter and can get a set of 4 for around $100.....
http://www.larrysmotorcyclemachine.com/lifters.html
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 31
Likes: 3
From: Indianapolis
I hope it goes better for you than it did for me. first cylinder took me a while...the intake pushrod wouldn't clear the lifter ridge. I ended up pulling the exhaust lifter an dropping the intake push rod in there, got everything in place an reinstalled the the lifter. I had the rocker boxes off having the heads refreshed so I was p.o'ed I didn't install the push rods while they were off.
Yup thats exactly the issue I had.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,557
Likes: 235
From: Texas
There are many choices for hydraulic lifters/tappets...and then there is the solids and limiters. Lots of good choices for any application and mountains of data and opinions. I quickly got lost. I read the reviews on the SE lifters weighing that against the cost and they were not my first choice from the beginning. I was leaning toward Fueling or S&S performance lifters which are not cheap either. I went with the S&S and regret that decision. Maybe I should have used their adjustable pushrods with them, IDK, but the combination of SE adjustable pushrods and S&S lifters did not work for me in this build. I do not know why or what was going on, but it was pretty clear that something was not just right from the beginning and I could not tweak it out. If I were more experienced and knowledgeable with this engine, maybe it would not have taken 2600 miles to figure it out and get it right. When I decided to replace the S&S lifters, I was right back in the middle of a mountain of data and opinions. I looked at all the aftermarket performance lifters and when I was overwhelmed with the data, I fell back on my aviation experience which taught me that the part designed by the manufacturer for the application may not have the best or most impressive specs, but it will always work. SE lifters are not cheap and may not be the best choice for every build, but they work well and were the solution to my problem.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 31
Likes: 3
From: Indianapolis
There are many choices for hydraulic lifters/tappets...and then there is the solids and limiters. Lots of good choices for any application and mountains of data and opinions. I quickly got lost. I read the reviews on the SE lifters weighing that against the cost and they were not my first choice from the beginning. I was leaning toward Fueling or S&S performance lifters which are not cheap either. I went with the S&S and regret that decision. Maybe I should have used their adjustable pushrods with them, IDK, but the combination of SE adjustable pushrods and S&S lifters did not work for me in this build. I do not know why or what was going on, but it was pretty clear that something was not just right from the beginning and I could not tweak it out. If I were more experienced and knowledgeable with this engine, maybe it would not have taken 2600 miles to figure it out and get it right. When I decided to replace the S&S lifters, I was right back in the middle of a mountain of data and opinions. I looked at all the aftermarket performance lifters and when I was overwhelmed with the data, I fell back on my aviation experience which taught me that the part designed by the manufacturer for the application may not have the best or most impressive specs, but it will always work. SE lifters are not cheap and may not be the best choice for every build, but they work well and were the solution to my problem.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,677
Likes: 434
There are many choices for hydraulic lifters/tappets...and then there is the solids and limiters. Lots of good choices for any application and mountains of data and opinions. I quickly got lost. I read the reviews on the SE lifters weighing that against the cost and they were not my first choice from the beginning. I was leaning toward Fueling or S&S performance lifters which are not cheap either. I went with the S&S and regret that decision. Maybe I should have used their adjustable pushrods with them, IDK, but the combination of SE adjustable pushrods and S&S lifters did not work for me in this build. I do not know why or what was going on, but it was pretty clear that something was not just right from the beginning and I could not tweak it out. If I were more experienced and knowledgeable with this engine, maybe it would not have taken 2600 miles to figure it out and get it right. When I decided to replace the S&S lifters, I was right back in the middle of a mountain of data and opinions. I looked at all the aftermarket performance lifters and when I was overwhelmed with the data, I fell back on my aviation experience which taught me that the part designed by the manufacturer for the application may not have the best or most impressive specs, but it will always work. SE lifters are not cheap and may not be the best choice for every build, but they work well and were the solution to my problem.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,075
Likes: 11,096
From: San Diego, CA
I would tend to agree, but we have no idea how many times the engineers are overruled by the bean counters...... lately I would suspect it happens a lot!
There have been many deficiencies in the Harley bikes over the years, and while most people blame it on stupid engineering, I suspect there are some Harley engineers that are pretty frustrated over decisions made by the MoCo over their objections....
But whoever is the weak link, thinking that any part, OEM or Screamin Eagle, is superior just because it's made by Harley for Harleys, is a fool's bet.....
Some parts are just as good as aftermarket parts (the OEM cam plate will suffice for all but ultra high performance builds), and some are woefully inferior (Harley OEM "C" lifters are crap)....
It always pays to do some research when upgrading/fixing something on a Harley, when it comes to buying replacement/performance parts.... IMHO
There have been many deficiencies in the Harley bikes over the years, and while most people blame it on stupid engineering, I suspect there are some Harley engineers that are pretty frustrated over decisions made by the MoCo over their objections....
But whoever is the weak link, thinking that any part, OEM or Screamin Eagle, is superior just because it's made by Harley for Harleys, is a fool's bet.....
Some parts are just as good as aftermarket parts (the OEM cam plate will suffice for all but ultra high performance builds), and some are woefully inferior (Harley OEM "C" lifters are crap)....
It always pays to do some research when upgrading/fixing something on a Harley, when it comes to buying replacement/performance parts.... IMHO
Last edited by hattitude; May 12, 2019 at 11:26 AM.
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