103" lifter (?) noise
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: No. Nevada
HD had changed from the Johnson Lifters in the early 2000 to another brand I guess they won the bid by being cheaper. The new lifters are noisy in the 2000 to 2300 rpm range I have an 07 and my friend has an 04 we have adjustable push rods we've tried everything in the adjusment and the noise is still there. I have a new set of Johnson lifters on the shelf which I purchased from a Tec Distributor/shop have not installed them yet but will the next tear down.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 894
Likes: 55
From: Colorado
Has anyone experienced their lifters bleeding down?
I have a new 11 Road king with 103 and just a few hundred miles on it and when it sits for more than a couple hours one of the front lifters bleeds off and hammers for the first few seconds at startup. The dealer said he would have to check Harley's specs to see if that's acceptable.......I won't go into my response.
I have a new 11 Road king with 103 and just a few hundred miles on it and when it sits for more than a couple hours one of the front lifters bleeds off and hammers for the first few seconds at startup. The dealer said he would have to check Harley's specs to see if that's acceptable.......I won't go into my response.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Daytona Beach
tick tick tick...
Valve train noise can be caused by many things. Realize that the hydraulic assembly in a hydraulic tappet, be it flat, or roller, is less that .0005" The smallest amount of debris (DIRT!) can cause the tappet to malfunction. Bleed rate also plays an important function. Oil viscosity also has a hand in this.
The next thing would be harmonics. Everything has a natural frequency, as in, if you could make the atoms in your body "Vibrate" at the same frequency as the floor you're standing on, you would fall right through it. The valve train in the engine is the same. The components all put together have a natural frequency, a "Fuss Point" if you will. Make a change, say from a 0.060" wall pushrod to a 0.080" wall pushrod and now the "Fuss point" is in a different place in the RPM range. The higher the natural frequency in a valve spring, the higher the "Fuss point" will occur in the rpm range with any given lobe design.
Higher quality valve springs = higher natural frequency = higher rpm "Fuss point" which = less valvetrain noise in many cases.
The SpinTronŽ has taught us many, many things...
Valvetrain 101...
: EP
The next thing would be harmonics. Everything has a natural frequency, as in, if you could make the atoms in your body "Vibrate" at the same frequency as the floor you're standing on, you would fall right through it. The valve train in the engine is the same. The components all put together have a natural frequency, a "Fuss Point" if you will. Make a change, say from a 0.060" wall pushrod to a 0.080" wall pushrod and now the "Fuss point" is in a different place in the RPM range. The higher the natural frequency in a valve spring, the higher the "Fuss point" will occur in the rpm range with any given lobe design.
Higher quality valve springs = higher natural frequency = higher rpm "Fuss point" which = less valvetrain noise in many cases.
The SpinTronŽ has taught us many, many things...
Valvetrain 101...
: EP
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 155
Likes: 4
From: Kissimmee
Old thread, better to bump then to repeat, imo.
Have lifters solved most of these 2000-2600 rpm clicks?
Looking into these in the meantime...
"black ops lifters from HQ"
It would be cool to know if it actually made a difference, the money isn't the big issue, just knowing it might actually be quieter.
Have lifters solved most of these 2000-2600 rpm clicks?
Looking into these in the meantime...
"black ops lifters from HQ"
It would be cool to know if it actually made a difference, the money isn't the big issue, just knowing it might actually be quieter.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 5
From: IOWA
Ear plugs. You won't here most of the motor noise, but you will still here your exhaust. And, you will thank yourself when you get older and can still hear. Been there, done that!
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 1
From: Brookfield,Il.
My person 2007 103' has had the noise since new. With the 103" motor it is a little louder, even with the better oil pump, quality oil, baker oil pan etc. It's the nature of the beast. We also build car motors and I had a noisy loose sounding motor, so my 103" was driving me crazy. I pulled it a part and all the parts were wearing fine after 2500 miles. Most all ridden with out shooting down the bike, Chicago to Fargo SD left at 6:30 am and back in Chicago at about 2am.
The motors was clean like I said no wear patterns or anything. Possible a new design lifter to help with deflection etc. I'd just lol by louder pipes or a better sound system...it appears to be normal. On a side not it did appear louder with the 255 cam
The motors was clean like I said no wear patterns or anything. Possible a new design lifter to help with deflection etc. I'd just lol by louder pipes or a better sound system...it appears to be normal. On a side not it did appear louder with the 255 cam
