I'm dealing with loud lifter noise on cold startups 40-50 degrees, first start in the morning. New Build, less than 200 miles:

07 FLHTCU
107 CI with CP 107 flat tops
Heads ported, 1.900 intake valve, 1.625 exhaust valve, springs 160 seated force
Wood TW-777 cams
SE taper adjustable pushrods
Comp Cams 850-1 Lifters

Cold start lifter noise for about 2 minutes 40-50 degree F.
Once she has quieted down, the lifter noise is just above normal for any rpm or load.
Any clue to why the heavy lifter noise for so long and so loud?

 

have you checked the pushrods- one may have lost adjustment.

check easiest first

Mike

 

Thats where I would start..... Sounds like they might be too tight.....

 

Yup, I have gone through adjustments a few times, deeper and shallower, doesn't seem to make a difference.

 

Wouldn't you have had less bleed off and faster pump up with the 875-1 lifters?

 

20w50? 10w40? Synthetic? Dino?

Some lifters just make more noise than others......

And heavy dino might make a difference in colder weather....

 

That is possible. If I adjust them deeper wouldn't it have the same effect as a 875-1? My understanding, the 875-1 is a 850-1 with travel limiters. 850-1 have .200" of travel and the 875-1 have a travel limit plate .100" thick, so the travel is half of the 850-1 or .100". If you would adjust the 850-1 deeper to .150" deep, it would be like the 875-1.

I really think these lifter bleed down faster than the stock Harley B lifters, and for some reason they pump up slower. I realize the heaver valve springs I'm running apply more force down the pushrod and help bleed the lifters down when stopped.

 

I suppose you're right about setting them deeper. What would the effect be of floating valves though? I know that is not what your asking but I'm just asking you. I am about to do a cam change (TMan 555 Torqster) on my new Road Glide Custom and Im going to try to run the stock pushrods. What lifters would you suggest? Im assuming my bike has the C lifters and I was considering the Comp Cams lifters. The price is right but I dont want anymore noise than I have to.

 

Probably not a problem with the seat pressure. Have you checked lifter bores? Feuling makes oversized lifters for bores that are on the big side. if you check them and discover one of the bores is on big side, they will sell you individual lifters allowing you to run some of the oversized In larger bores and the standard in others. It's a little disappointing to hear you've got this noise issue with so few miles. I was strongly considering those lifters for the build I'm about to start.

 

I've had the noise from 0 miles, starting up the new build. I have the SE tapered adjustable pushrods, I tried different pushrod lengths, my next step is to take the lifters and bores out of question. My plan is to remove the 850-1s and measure them. Measure my stock Harley B lifters for comparison. I could then measure the lifter bores. I assume you would measure in 4 places, high, low and 90 degrees? Plan on measuring the lifters the same way. Next install my stock Harley B lifters back in and adjust the pushrods in 2-1/2 to 3 turns and hear what I get (always mark location on your parts when disassembly, you never know). If the noise goes away or it's duration in time decreases, than I'm looking at replacing the 850-1 with something else, but which ones?
If there is no change, than I'm dealing with the aggressive ramps of these cams and now figure out if there is lifters that will reduce the start up noise. From talking to Bob Woods, he never stated the start up noise would reduce with his lifters, just that they take a very long time to bleed down. And again while riding or idling after start up, there is no real concern of the lifter noise, but cold start up lifter pump up is concerning.