Lifter Bleed Down...What exactly is it?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,145
Likes: 6,167
From: SE Michigan
Resurrecting an old thread here.
My dealer suspects my lifters are bleeding down causing my reported cold engine clatter.
Question: Could bad lifters be the cause of pinging when the engine is hot?
My dealer suspects my lifters are bleeding down causing my reported cold engine clatter.
Question: Could bad lifters be the cause of pinging when the engine is hot?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 173
From: Simi Valley, CA
No! Think about it in a worst case scenario... If the lifter is making noise because it's too loose, as is the case when it has bled down, the result will be less lift and duration of the valves and essentially a de-tuned engine. Not very likely that this would cause a ping. At the opposite end of the spectrum, say the lifter seized in a fully pumped-up position, then you'd never get the required compression to cause a ping because the valves would never fully close.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,145
Likes: 6,167
From: SE Michigan
No! Think about it in a worst case scenario... If the lifter is making noise because it's too loose, as is the case when it has bled down, the result will be less lift and duration of the valves and essentially a de-tuned engine. Not very likely that this would cause a ping. At the opposite end of the spectrum, say the lifter seized in a fully pumped-up position, then you'd never get the required compression to cause a ping because the valves would never fully close.
I thought maybe the lifters would fix that as well as the clatter, but I guess not.
I was also thinking about adding TMan 555 cams while they were at it but at this point I wonder what shape my pistons are in.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,774
Likes: 2,606
From: san antonio
OK, thanks. The bike is pinging pretty badly (dealer tuned my stage 1) - even using 93 at low altitudes - this was happening on my way to/from sturgis this year. I thought maybe the lifters would fix that as well as the clatter, but I guess not. I was also thinking about adding TMan 555 cams while they were at it but at this point I wonder what shape my pistons are in.
IIRC from your previous posts, you ride a TC88? If so, and it is a pre '05 model, the valve springs won't accommodate the higher lift of the TMan 555; or later, no worries, but the Andrews 48 would be a better fit IMHO. If a pre '05 model, the Andrews 21 or 26 are the go to cams; 21 for naggers or 26 for softails and dynas.
Last edited by djl; Aug 14, 2013 at 12:07 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,145
Likes: 6,167
From: SE Michigan
What fuel management system? Did the dealer tune or flash the ECM with the Stage 1 download and tweak it? Sounds like the tune is way off if "pinging pretty badly".
IIRC from your previous posts, you ride a TC88? If so, and it is a pre '05 model, the valve springs won't accommodate the higher lift of the TMan 555; or later, no worries, but the Andrews 48 would be a better fit IMHO. If a pre '05 model, the Andrews 21 or 26 are the go to cams; 21 for naggers or 26 for softails and dynas.
IIRC from your previous posts, you ride a TC88? If so, and it is a pre '05 model, the valve springs won't accommodate the higher lift of the TMan 555; or later, no worries, but the Andrews 48 would be a better fit IMHO. If a pre '05 model, the Andrews 21 or 26 are the go to cams; 21 for naggers or 26 for softails and dynas.
I had my stock lifters replaced under warranty last year. Cold startup clattering solved.
Then, this spring, I got a 107 done by FM, pistons showed no signs of pinging. What I was hearing was valve train noise.
Jamie uses Woods lifters, so they were replaced again with the build in the spring.
But now, after about 8K miles on my 107 build (just back from Sturgis), its making a hellish clatter on cold startup, I actually have to ride it a couple miles to make it go away.
Recommendation from Jamie is to put another 1/2 turn pre-load on the pushrods.
To complicate matters, the service manager at my local dealer wont touch it, but the service writer, a former mechanic and very familiar with Woods products, offered to adjust it before hours on Wednesday. Fun fun fun.
Last edited by Keithhu; Aug 11, 2014 at 04:58 PM.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,101
Likes: 1,013
run some seafoam in the oil. I had a chevy van that had a slow lifter in it.
It always clacked loudly at startup, and some times even got loud during regular driving. I though my engine was toast.
It would take 5 minutes for it to quiet down at startup, it was this way for over a year,
always loud at startup. I dumped 1/2 can in the oil, and on the first start it started to quiet down. Then running it for another 10 miles totally quieted it down. Next day cold start, the noise was GONE, for the first time in a year I started the truck with NO lifter noise.
Now, people call this stuff snake oil, whatever, I heard the results with my own ears.
Ran the truck for 50 miles, dumped the oil, and it was black as tar.
The truck never made any lifter noise after that one treatment.
Before that, I was ready to sell the truck, it was that bad.
The stuff works great for sticky lifters, did the same for a friends truck too.
It always clacked loudly at startup, and some times even got loud during regular driving. I though my engine was toast.
It would take 5 minutes for it to quiet down at startup, it was this way for over a year,
always loud at startup. I dumped 1/2 can in the oil, and on the first start it started to quiet down. Then running it for another 10 miles totally quieted it down. Next day cold start, the noise was GONE, for the first time in a year I started the truck with NO lifter noise.
Now, people call this stuff snake oil, whatever, I heard the results with my own ears.
Ran the truck for 50 miles, dumped the oil, and it was black as tar.
The truck never made any lifter noise after that one treatment.
Before that, I was ready to sell the truck, it was that bad.
The stuff works great for sticky lifters, did the same for a friends truck too.
Last edited by Ragtop; Aug 11, 2014 at 07:59 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,145
Likes: 6,167
From: SE Michigan
run some seafoam in the oil. I had a chevy van that had a slow lifter in it.
It always clacked loudly at startup, and some times even got loud during regular driving. I though my engine was toast.
It would take 5 minutes for it to quiet down at startup, it was this way for over a year,
always loud at startup. I dumped 1/2 can in the oil, and on the first start it started to quiet down. Then running it for another 10 miles totally quieted it down. Next day cold start, the noise was GONE, for the first time in a year I started the truck with NO lifter noise.
Now, people call this stuff snake oil, whatever, I heard the results with my own ears.
Ran the truck for 50 miles, dumped the oil, and it was black as tar.
The truck never made any lifter noise after that one treatment.
Before that, I was ready to sell the truck, it was that bad.
The stuff works great for sticky lifters, did the same for a friends truck too.
It always clacked loudly at startup, and some times even got loud during regular driving. I though my engine was toast.
It would take 5 minutes for it to quiet down at startup, it was this way for over a year,
always loud at startup. I dumped 1/2 can in the oil, and on the first start it started to quiet down. Then running it for another 10 miles totally quieted it down. Next day cold start, the noise was GONE, for the first time in a year I started the truck with NO lifter noise.
Now, people call this stuff snake oil, whatever, I heard the results with my own ears.
Ran the truck for 50 miles, dumped the oil, and it was black as tar.
The truck never made any lifter noise after that one treatment.
Before that, I was ready to sell the truck, it was that bad.
The stuff works great for sticky lifters, did the same for a friends truck too.