LIfters 101

[DarrellV]

LIFTER SCHOOL TIME... quick run down on lifters in Twin Cams {yea it's winter time}.

Harley made lifter A and lifter B, most everyone knows that and has seen the pictures of the two. But why is one better than the other? Most people talk about switching to the B lifter so I'm under the impression the B lifter is better to have. What year TC came with what lifters? Did the motor company change from one style to the other as a "up-grade", if so what years motor have what in them from factory?

[autoworker]

I believe the B lifter came out in the 02 model year.
The A lifters have more of a tendency to bleed down when sitting for a while.
I also believe they are produced by different vendors.

Of course.....I may be fos also.

[Don D]

OK so the rest of the story is Johnson Lifter, the supplier lost the contract and Delphi / Eaton took over. If I am not mistaken Johnson went out of business to re-emerge as Johnson-Hylift in later years.

[akajjmon]

wow "m glad the name changes did'nt go the other way!!
I'll be damned if I would stand around in a bunch of bikers and proudly say
""YUP I changed over to EATON JOHNSON!!!!"

some ARE sicker than others!

[smoserx1]

The part number in my 99 parts book is 18538-99.  Chicago Harley still shows this as well as 18538-99A and 18538-99B lifters, although I would be surprised if anything other than the "B" versions are currently available.  The B lifters are the current version, so H-D has apparently had 3 versions of the lifters.

My bike is one of the early twin cams that had the cam bearing failure, and the "kit" they put in had B lifters.  I believe I had the repair done in 02.  Since then, I have changed the lifters again, this time myself when I did a tensioner and cam replacement.  Anyway, those original lifters would bleed down and clatter loud as hell almost every time the bike sat overnight.  The message boards were full of threads complaining about this.  The "B" lifters almost never make any clatter on cold start like the original ones, although they may be slightly louder once warmed up in that 2500 RPM range where they all seem to make noise.

[Hillside Motorcycle]

wow "m glad the name changes did'nt go the other way!!
I'll be damned if I would stand around in a bunch of bikers and proudly say
""YUP I changed over to EATON JOHNSON!!!!"

some ARE sicker than others!

...................had a girlfriend that was pretty good at that..........
Scott

[Ken R]

My '02 Ultra had "A" lifters.  My '03 Dyna has "B" lifters, so maybe '03 was the first year for the "B" lifters. 

[rideonfasterlouder]

wow "m glad the name changes did'nt go the other way!!
I'll be damned if I would stand around in a bunch of bikers and proudly say
""YUP I changed over to EATON JOHNSON!!!!"

some ARE sicker than others!

...................had a girlfriend that was pretty good at that..........
Scott

Had as in past tense?  Where is she now??

[FSG]

My '02 Ultra had "A" lifters.  My '03 Dyna has "B" lifters, so maybe '03 was the first year for the "B" lifters.

Correct.

2002   A  Lifters
2003   B  Lifters

[FSG]

My 02 was a later 02 bike. But my 02 FLHT had B lifters in it from factory.

What criteria did you use to determine yours were B's ?

[DarrellV]

NO, I WAS WRONG...again. I went out and looked in the garage in my "junk" filing cabinet where I keep my "stuff". The box that has my stock 02 chain cams has a set of A lifters in there, so my 02 must have been A's also.

Guess it is safe to say that they changed them in 2003 to the "B" lifter.

[Ridetard]

My '02 Ultra had "A" lifters.  My '03 Dyna has "B" lifters, so maybe '03 was the first year for the "B" lifters.

Correct.

2002   A  Lifters
2003   B  Lifters

2001  B lifters. 23 bucks each, Chicago Harley

[FSG]

2001  B lifters. 23 bucks each, Chicago Harley

People & Shops can advertise whatever they want, and while B Lifters are backward compatible and can be used in a 2001, it doesn't change the fact that 2002 came from the factory with A lifters.

2001: 18538-99   
2002: 18538-99A
2003: 18538-99B

[Ken R]

My '02 Ultra had "A" lifters.  My '03 Dyna has "B" lifters, so maybe '03 was the first year for the "B" lifters.

Correct.

2002   A  Lifters
2003   B  Lifters

2001  B lifters. 23 bucks each, Chicago Harley

And you don't want to forget lifters from our own HTT member,  Herko.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HARLEY-LIFTERS-B-LIFTERS-18538-99B-SET-OF-FOUR-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1c0db74365QQitemZ120489198437QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[Ridetard]

My '02 Ultra had "A" lifters.  My '03 Dyna has "B" lifters, so maybe '03 was the first year for the "B" lifters.

2002   A  Lifters
2003   B  Lifters

2001  B lifters. 23 bucks each, Chicago Harley

And you don't want to forget lifters from our own HTT member,  Herko.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HARLEY-LIFTERS-B-LIFTERS-18538-99B-SET-OF-FOUR-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1c0db74365QQitemZ120489198437QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Had no idea.  Thanks

In regards to the 01.   Just replaced my stock lifters.  B's came out, B's went in.   Besides that, what exactly is the poiint here??.  It's a good lifter.

How does one contact Herko direct?

[WVULTRA]

You'll find John (Herko) here:
 

 
    

[hdzcar]

I got one of the last 02 Heritages (Late June) and it had B Lifters.

[Armin]

How do you tell A lifters from  lifters?

Armin.

[Ohio HD]

This shows the differences in 18538-99A and 18538-99B lifters.


Photo courtesy of FSG

[Armin]

Thanks Ohio, that's what I was looking for.

Armin.

[CarlosGGodfrog]

What about the Screaming Eagle lifters ?

[itsafatboy]

if looking for the best regular type lifter then
www.larrysmotorcyclemachine.com/lifters.html
i would go with the sel model slow leak down , pin oil and limiters,

if looking for something different i would get jims steady roll bushing lifter and add limiters , can get on ebay for like 123 a lifter yep spendy

[tbird]

What was the last year B lifters came in the twin cam?

[kd]

What was the last year B lifters came in the twin cam?

Technically 2010 (while the 2011 production was beginning) but the first few weeks of 2011 the remaining stock at the engine assembly line were still being used up. That makes it early 2011. Some dealers had new old stock linger for a while also but that's not what you are asking.