Pre-oiling lifters

[egstandard04]

What's the best method for getting some oil into a new set of lifters?  Also, going to be firing up a rebuilt motor in the next week or so. What's the best method to use to insure oil pressure right from the get go? Thanks in advance.

[Sonny S.]

I have a plastic bottle with a removable pointed top. I cut the tip at a slight angle. Push that up against the side oil hole in the lifter and squeeze the bottle until oil comes out the top of the lifter. Then squirt some oil in the side of the roller needle bearings. No soaking, no waiting.. never a tick at start up.

[joe_lyons]

I have a mechanical oil pumper can with a tapered rubber vac adapter attached to the end.  Pump up the oil hole until there is no more air bubbles and just like sonny said oil the rollers.  I take out the spark plugs and unplug the fuel pump and crank the bike in 10 sec intervals until the oil light goes out.

[Nowhereman]

I have a can of AMSOIL with a lid.
I throw the bastards in there for a few days and go about my business.
Never lost one ever.

[Durwood]

I have a can of AMSOIL with a lid.
I throw the bastards in there for a few days and go about my business.
Never lost one ever.

I do the same, soak them a while prior to installation, never any start up clack clack, click click, it does make bleed off take a little longer, but no biggie.
Been doing them this way forever.

[joe_lyons]

"Ain't nobody got time for that."

[Durwood]

I hear ya Joe, when I have a job coming in I put them in the oil and let them soak, by the time I am ready to install them they are ready to go.  I am slow though.

[HV]

Like Joe says... in a shop we dont have time to soak for days.. .....I have a small bottle too that fills them...

[egstandard04]

Thanks again guys.

[les]

Even though you push oil into the lifter, you should still crank the engine without the spark plugs for a few times before the first fire up.

I pull the plugs, pull the fuel pump fuse.  I crank it for about 5 to 10 seconds.  Wait 20 seconds.  I do this for about 5 times.  Plugs in, fuse in.  Fire it up.  This assures a chatter free first time start up.

[Admiral Akbar]

Your supposed to pre oil them?   

Max

[hrdtail78]

I crank the engine with plugs and push rods out until I get oil out of the top of the 4 lifters and I am indicating pressure.  This fills lifters with oil and indicates I have oil pump installed correctly.

[UltraNutZ]

Even though you push oil into the lifter, you should still crank the engine without the spark plugs for a few times before the first fire up.

I pull the plugs, pull the fuel pump fuse.  I crank it for about 5 to 10 seconds.  Wait 20 seconds.  I do this for about 5 times.  Plugs in, fuse in.  Fire it up.  This assures a chatter free first time start up.

the way I was taught as well. 

[Nowhereman]

Even though you push oil into the lifter, you should still crank the engine without the spark plugs for a few times before the first fire up.

I pull the plugs, pull the fuel pump fuse.  I crank it for about 5 to 10 seconds.  Wait 20 seconds.  I do this for about 5 times.  Plugs in, fuse in.  Fire it up.  This assures a chatter free first time start up.

the way I was taught as well.

I like that application as you can have at least one more beer before your done...

[GoFast.....]

What does the Harley Bible say(maintenance  manual). 

[UltraNutZ]

What does the Harley Bible say(maintenance  manual). 

Harley Bible states "Soak lifters in clean engine oil. Keep covered until assembly."

[Olivepearl]

Like Joe says... in a shop we dont have time to soak for days.. .....I have a small bottle too that fills them...

While it's fresh on your mind right now throw 4 lifters in a container of oil now and they will be ready for your next build! Gotta think ahead if you do multiple builds!

Robert

[joe_lyons]

I haven't had an issue with pressure feeding them with a pumper can so I'll prob stick with that and its a hair bit less of a mess.

[TweekmyTwin]

I haven't had an issue with pressure feeding them with a pumper can so I'll prob stick with that and its a hair bit less of a mess.

works every time. A sure shot and the lifter jig is what use.

[Bakon]

Soaking never seems to work for me, even overnight, I fire it up, let it clatter and shut it off. Then I start again and less clatter, rev it once and still clatter so shut it off. Look at bike and say it should quiet down some more, restart, rev and gets quiet. I then ride it across country and everything is good.

[les]

Even though you push oil into the lifter, you should still crank the engine without the spark plugs for a few times before the first fire up.

I pull the plugs, pull the fuel pump fuse.  I crank it for about 5 to 10 seconds.  Wait 20 seconds.  I do this for about 5 times.  Plugs in, fuse in.  Fire it up.  This assures a chatter free first time start up.

the way I was taught as well.

I like that application as you can have at least one more beer before your done...

In addition to the beer, it's a great time to put the compression tester in the spark plug holes and get some readings.  So, you can kill two birds with one stone.  Prime your oiling system and get CCP readings.  I always take this opportunity to get those CCP readings.

[les]

Soaking never seems to work for me, even overnight, I fire it up, let it clatter and shut it off. Then I start again and less clatter, rev it once and still clatter so shut it off. Look at bike and say it should quiet down some more, restart, rev and gets quiet. I then ride it across country and everything is good.

Soaking never worked for me either.  However, cranking has always worked for me in terms of chatter free first start.  You just need to not be shy about doing it a half dozen times.

[Billy]

I haven't had an issue with pressure feeding them with a pumper can so I'll prob stick with that and its a hair bit less of a mess.

works every time. A sure shot and the lifter jig is what use.

lifter jig 

[UltraNutZ]

I haven't had an issue with pressure feeding them with a pumper can so I'll prob stick with that and its a hair bit less of a mess.

works every time. A sure shot and the lifter jig is what use.

lifter jig 

what's this "jig" you guys keep talking about?

[Billy]

I haven't had an issue with pressure feeding them with a pumper can so I'll prob stick with that and its a hair bit less of a mess.

works every time. A sure shot and the lifter jig is what use.

lifter jig 

what's this "jig" you guys keep talking about?

It's heavily guarded secret. I know of only 4 people on the planet who have one.