new lifter install

[johnnyfamous]

any special instructions on installing new lifters? soak em in oil for a bit? i will be using the stock push rods.

cheers!

[crazylore]

I soak them in oil.... go in the house for a couple of brews [only a couple].... and then follow the book

[jrussell]

Use an oil squirt can, and stick the nozzle in the hole in the lifter and pump them full.

[Admiral Akbar]

Brand new lifters when wrapped in the paper typically have a light hytrulic test oil in them.. No need to soak.. though it may help on my last step. I check them for burs and stone lightly any sharp edges that might scratch the bore or even scape oil off. Last thing I'd do is make sure the roller needles spin smoothly.. If not, wash with then wd40 then add Torco assy lube..  Max

Max,

[smoserx1]

I changed mine about 50000 miles ago because I thought the old ones were noisy.  The new ones sounded exactly the same.  Anyway, when I installed them I just dipped them in oil and dropped them in.  I remember how easy the pushrod adjusters turned and thought "these lifters are dry inside."  When I started the bike the new lifters were loud as a mofo, but only for a split second.  They pumped right up and got quiet.  About 10000 miles later I changed cams and tensioners, and reused the lifters.  That time the pushrod adjusters were much harder to turn, and I knew the lifters were full of oil.  They were also quiet when first started back up that time.

Just looking at the lifter, I don't see how soaking or even squirting with a can is going to get any oil inside (the side hole is covered when they are out of the engine).  An old Chilton car manual I used to have said if you want to prime new lifters you have to immerse then and actuate the plunger while the lifter is submerged.

Just drop 'em in and don't worry about it.

[Dennis The Menace]

What smo said.  Although, I soaked mine in a baggie of oil for several weeks before I had time to install them.  I'm sure it didnt hurt em, but probably didnt need to do it either.

menace

[rbabos]

jrussell has the best solution. Dipping then in oil will do little more than coat the outside. To get oil behind the plunger force feeding the inlet hole with an oil can is the best way to get the oil in where it counts. Saves a bit of wear and tear on the new lifters, especially on a new build.
Ron

[Quick_2s]

kind of a side to this post but if you look here;

http://harleytechtalk.com/htt/index.php/topic,25344.msg258966.html#msg258966

you can see the inner workings of the "b" lifter. I disassembled, inspected, cleaned and re-oiled them during a recent cam change. From what I can tell after this process they do tend to run quieter now. If you are so inclined you can take a 1.5ml infants medicine syringe from your local pharmacy, remove the snap ring, top plunger and underlying disk, then use the syringe to inject oil directly thru the check valve hole in the bottom of the plunger and it will rise straight up to the top. Then re-install the disk, top plunger, and snap ring using a 7/8 socket for the roller end, an 8 mm socket on the plunger end and a c-clamp. The ring will slide right over the 8mm socket while under pressure. NOTE: only compress the lifter as far as needed to get the ring back in otherwise you push most of the oil back out the side port.

Just an option for your consideration.

[iclick]

Use an oil squirt can, and stick the nozzle in the hole in the lifter and pump them full.

I find this to be a quick, easy method to pump the lifters.

[Don D]

Mine go in with light machine oil on the parts only. I can adjust the lifters much faster that way and they start and take a minute or less to quiet down. I do coat the outers with Toco assembly lube.

[Bakon]

I soak my by immersing them in oil for a day. Don't think a drop went in. Started them and were quiet in a minute or two.