Tappet selection
Hey out there,
Getting ready to do some heart surgery on my 2003 TC88 with 31k on the dial. Replacing tappets as part of the deal. Question? Has any one had luck, good or bad with V Thunder Hydraulic Roller Short-Travel Tappets - DS1002.
It's a stock engine at this point, wish I could afford many upgrades but for now just replacing chain tensioners, front and rear bearings, rods and tappets, i believe these tappets may be the way to go. I believe better than stock and not real expensive. I've been looking around and there seems to be a dizzing selection. out there. Would like to try Jim's, but $$$$$$$$. So thanks for experience and input.
Getting ready to do some heart surgery on my 2003 TC88 with 31k on the dial. Replacing tappets as part of the deal. Question? Has any one had luck, good or bad with V Thunder Hydraulic Roller Short-Travel Tappets - DS1002.
It's a stock engine at this point, wish I could afford many upgrades but for now just replacing chain tensioners, front and rear bearings, rods and tappets, i believe these tappets may be the way to go. I believe better than stock and not real expensive. I've been looking around and there seems to be a dizzing selection. out there. Would like to try Jim's, but $$$$$$$$. So thanks for experience and input.
I agree.... they are a quality lifter and WFO Larry sells them at a very good price... I have used them in a couple different applications with good results...
https://larrysmcymachineinc.square.site
Standards are $139 per set of 4, and premiums are $199 per set of 4...
One other consideration.....
You only have 31K miles on your OEM lifters. The 2003 bikes came with the Harley "B" series lifters (#18538-99B). The real crappy Harley "C" lifters (#18538-99C) didn't become OEM until 2011ish. There are many in the business who consider the "B" lifters as, at minimum, a very good lifter, and some who consider them a premium lifter.
At 50K-60K+ miles I would consider replacing the "B" lifters, but at 31k miles, if they are quiet, I would leave them...
My 2003 Heritage, I bought new, and did a big bore kit at 6 months. I got around to upgrading the spring tensioners at 20K miles. I spent more money than necessary on the upgrade. It included: S&S TC3 '07+ cam plate & pump, A26 conversion cams, new inner cam bearings, new breather assemblies in the heads, forged S&S rocker arms, forged SE rocker arm bases, and new adjustable pushrods... But at 20K miles, I kept the OEM "B" series lifters...


Good luck with your mods...
Last edited by hattitude; Dec 21, 2021 at 09:34 AM.
I agree.... they are a quality lifter and WFO Larry sells them at a very good price... I have used them in a couple different applications with good results...
https://larrysmcymachineinc.square.site
Standards are $139 per set of 4, and premiums are $199 per set of 4...
One other consideration.....
You only have 31K miles on your OEM lifters. The 2003 bikes came with the Harley "B" series lifters (#18538-99B). The real crappy Harley "C" lifters (#18538-99C) didn't become OEM until 2011ish. There are many in the business who consider the "B" lifters as, at minimum, a very good lifter, and some who consider them a premium lifter.
At 50K-60K+ miles I would consider replacing the "B" lifters, but at 31k miles, if they are quiet, I would leave them...
Good luck with your mods...
https://larrysmcymachineinc.square.site
Standards are $139 per set of 4, and premiums are $199 per set of 4...
One other consideration.....
You only have 31K miles on your OEM lifters. The 2003 bikes came with the Harley "B" series lifters (#18538-99B). The real crappy Harley "C" lifters (#18538-99C) didn't become OEM until 2011ish. There are many in the business who consider the "B" lifters as, at minimum, a very good lifter, and some who consider them a premium lifter.
At 50K-60K+ miles I would consider replacing the "B" lifters, but at 31k miles, if they are quiet, I would leave them...
Good luck with your mods...
Old habits.... I owned boats for fishing & diving out of San Diego from 1986-2016...
I owned & operated "HATTitude" from 2000 to 2016..
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Hatteras is the make of boat... Mine was a Hatteras 46' convertible. Hatteras yachts were founded in 1959 by Willis Slane who made the first off-shore, fiberglass fishing boat... They are a very well made, strong, and capable offshore boat...
The Hatteras Company fishing boat is entered into all sorts of fishing tournaments for marketing... They get a new model every other year or so, It is always named "Hatterascal"... this is an old story, but you'll get the point.. https://www.marlinmag.com/hatteras-y...terascal-2019/
I mixed Attitude with the boat make Hatteras, for my boat name... HATTitude...
The Hatteras Company fishing boat is entered into all sorts of fishing tournaments for marketing... They get a new model every other year or so, It is always named "Hatterascal"... this is an old story, but you'll get the point.. https://www.marlinmag.com/hatteras-y...terascal-2019/
I mixed Attitude with the boat make Hatteras, for my boat name... HATTitude...









