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Wow, I never knew this and it would have worried me at first, until I found out that it was a different year. I kind of like my twin cam but I sometimes regret getting into the newer Harleys. My flatty servicar gave me at least as much fun if not more. I went for a new one thinking it was wiser to have a reliable bike, but I should have slept on it longer and gotten a pre evo big twin instead. Allas no money now to go back so keeping this 25 year old lady as best as I can. Lots more miles in her yet.
A flatty sericar..?? Sweet! But I wouldn't want that for my only bike... I've dreamed of getting a pan head to play with...
I've had, and loved, a couple shovel heads ('78 & '80), and an EVO ('89). They all treated me well, with few if any issues. I put many miles on those three bikes, approximately 150K between the three. But at this point, I wouldn't want one them as my main bike either, although in good repair I suspect they'd work out just fine...
I currently have four Twin Cams; '01 Springer, '03 Heritage, '09 Crossbones, and '16 Bagger (my multi-day trip bike). I really like the Twin Cams and have no current plans to get an M8...
Enjoy that 2000 Twin Cam....
Last edited by hattitude; Jul 29, 2025 at 10:48 AM.
A flatty sericar..?? Sweet! But I wouldn't want that for my only bike... I've dreamed of getting a pan head to play with...
I've had, and loved, a couple shovel heads ('78 & '80), and an EVO ('89). They all treated me well, with few if any issues. I put many miles on those three bikes, approximately 150K between the three. But at this point, I wouldn't want one them as my main bike either, although in good repair I suspect they'd work out just fine...
I currently have four Twin Cams; '01 Springer, '03 Heritage, '09 Crossbones, and '16 Bagger (my multi-day trip bike). I really like the Twin Cams and have no current plans to get an M8...
Enjoy that 2000 Twin Cam....
I do and will keep on enjoying her. Few years ago the injection module went and replacement was an absurd amount of money. So true to my long herritage of simple bikes, I threw out all the computer stuff and got a flatside Mikuni carb and tiny machines ignition unit. Never looked back. A bit difficult to start when really cold but at my age so am I, cannot blame her feeling the same 😎
I did not want to make it sound like I dont like her, I deffinitely do. Just regret is a funny bedpartner and there are times I really look long and hard at some pre evo big twin, until reality kicks in. You got a nice collection there, hard to chose at times I reckon.
So I finally think I found out why my valves are ticking. It seems my model year has lifters that only have one oil hole and therefor they are directional. So I think that because some of my lifters "slipped" during installation of the camshafts, I did not check which way they turned and I think I might have pushed them back up the wrong way facing front.
So this weekend it all comes apart again to check and correct. Just hope there is not too much damage due to this mishap.
I want to thank everyone here for their insight and information, it all helped me finding out what could be wrong. If I find they are not the wrong way around I have bigger problems
So I finally think I found out why my valves are ticking.
It seems my model year has lifters that only have one oil hole and therefor they are directional. So I think that because some of my lifters "slipped" during installation of the camshafts, I did not check which way they turned and I think I might have pushed them back up the wrong way facing front. So this weekend it all comes apart again to check and correct. Just hope there is not too much damage due to this mishap.
I want to thank everyone here for their insight and information, it all helped me finding out what could be wrong. If I find they are not the wrong way around I have bigger problems
I'll save you some work.... With OEM lifters, the lifter direction is not your problem.
OEM Harley Twin Cam lifters are not directional. The oil hole can face either direction, inboard or outboard.
The EVO motors, IIRC, needed the oil hole to face inboard for proper oiling. The recommendation to face the TC lifters inboard is a carry over from the EVO days.
So, if you used the OEM lifters, or aftermarket like S&S or Hylift Johnson that have the lifter oil feed holes in the same location as the OEM lifters, direction will not matter.
Now, if you have an aftermarket lifter that claims to be directional, you need to follow their install directions.
Last edited by hattitude; Aug 21, 2025 at 08:26 AM.
@hattitude I do not know which cams are in. I bought the bike second hand in the UK and years later I found out it was an US import. They could tell me very little other then that the previous owner had done work to it!
The lifters are not screaming at some deafening rate but adjusting them with more preload does not help. Before the cam chain tensioner replacement they were quiet.
so for the sake of 30 bucks for the gasket, and a handful of hours in the garage, I decided to check it out. Tomorrow morning Ill crack her open again to have a look.
Since the chain tensioners I have done some 2500 clicks and it could be mental games in my head but I feel it got slightly worse, I am sure its in my head but it wont go away without looking. 🤯
@hattitude I do not know which cams are in. I bought the bike second hand in the UK and years later I found out it was an US import. They could tell me very little other then that the previous owner had done work to it!
The lifters are not screaming at some deafening rate but adjusting them with more preload does not help. Before the cam chain tensioner replacement they were quiet.
so for the sake of 30 bucks for the gasket, and a handful of hours in the garage, I decided to check it out. Tomorrow morning Ill crack her open again to have a look.
Since the chain tensioners I have done some 2500 clicks and it could be mental games in my head but I feel it got slightly worse, I am sure its in my head but it wont go away without looking. 🤯
If it was quiet before you did the cam tensioner work, and after you were done it was louder, then you certainly should recheck your work.
I know my OCD makes me do stuff I'd rather ignore.... but it the long run it's just time and gaskets...
A short intermediate report even before everything is out of the bike. Opened her up and while removing the oil pump chain I had a casual look at the front tensioner pad. It was already worn by about 2 mm deep and this is only after 2500 km.
Called my dealer for new ones and unfortunately they are not in stock and need to be ordered. Drag Specialities will take a week.
So I forgot where these tensioners came from since I had bought them a long time ago but honestly they are very likely unbranded **** from eBay or Amazon. Needless to say I should not have used them, but wisdom comes last, as usual. I have stopped buying Harley parts online for exactly this reason, so fair to say I really should have known better before I did this job. I read in another thread here that somebody had a similar issue with his M8 tensioners he bought online. Unfortunately for him it ended in disaster, so I am happy I had this valve train noise that made me open her up again. Without that I would have suffered the same fate I reckon.
Now I will continue to strip her down and to see if I find other stupid stuff. But once that is completed I will be without wheels for at least one week. Not happy I am!
Ordered new parts from HD and now have to wait, they are not in stock.
Found two lifters the wrong way around from original, my bad. But overall I am glad I took it to bits again because another 2500 km it would probably have failed catastrofically.
Those new tensioner pads are certainly subpar.....
Make sure you account for all the debris from the one that actually broke apart. If debris was to block an oil passage, that could wreak havoc...
Yes it was still intact but removal broke it completely so no pieces are missing, guaranteed.
I will still do a fresh oil change though, and clean out all the loctite from the holes everywhere. Since it gets hotter here by the year, with peaks that seem higher then normal also, I think I will get myself some 20W60 instead of the HD recommended grades.
I do not really want to start an oil related thread, it is just like snake bites and terrorism related issues, people get upset very quickly online
We all know what oil we like
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I've dreamed of getting a pan head to play with...
dubious quality tensioners
