Blockheads Really Do Run Forever.....

[sandrooney]

How do you know if you have A or B lifters I have a 95 Road King.
Thanks,
SR

[14Frisco]

If the lifters have never been changed on a 1995 FLHR, I believe you have neither A nor B.  1995 EVOs came with 18523-86, I think.

The lifters in my 94 FLHR have failed at the regular interval of 30,000 miles.  First set at 30K, 2nd set at 60K.  And I have now 90K+ on the odometer and am ordering up a new set soon.

[sandrooney]

14Frisco,
Which lifters do you have?
Thanks,
SR

[FSG]

1995 EVO's came with 18523-86 , sure did.   

[sandrooney]

Is that good ?
Thanks,
SR

[14Frisco]

I have always run OEM lifters.  Initially 18523-86 since the bike came with those.  Then 18523-86 again after the first fiasco.  Then 18523-86B after the second fiasco, and that's the set I am currently running.  And planning to replace with a new set for preventative reasons soon.

FYI, a HD part number is of the format nnnnn-yy.

yy is the year a part was initially introduced.
When there is a new version of the part, a capital letter is appended to the part number.  The first time the part is upgraded the letter A is used, second time the letter B is used etc.   Such upgraded parts replaces the original part (part number) and always fit exactly as the original part.  So, nnnnn-yyB means it is the third revision of the part nnnnn-yy.

Thus, initially the lifter was 18523-86 and it was introduced in 1986,  Then it was upgraded to 18523-86A.  Then it was upgraded again to 18523-86B.

Is it good if you have 18523-86 in your 1995 Road King?  Several factors come into play, like which cam you are running and how many miles you have on the bike, but I'd say no and if I was you I would replace them.  If the original OEM cam bearing is still in there, that would be a good time to replace it as well.  If you bought the bike used, the previous owner(s) may have already done some of that, but for peace of mind...

[sandrooney]

I bought the bike in Aug. from the original owner. It had 15,000 miles, it now has 20,000 miles. He didn't do anything to it except normal maintenance.
I will probably be putting in a cam at some point, and I guess I will change them then. I never had an EVO before, I went straight from pans and shovels to the TC, 05 Ultra, then 07 Ultra which I have now. I wanted to have a second bike so I decided to get the EVO since I had never had one before,man I didn't know what I was missing, I love it, it is a nice smooth tight bike, just feels right if you know what I mean. I have 32,000 miles on my Ultra and love it also, it's always a tough choice which one to ride, but a nice problem to have.
Thanks 14Frisco,
SR

[hogget]

i'm a bit confused - some of these posts talk about adjustable lifters, but i thought stock were hydraulic - should the stock hydraulic lifters be changed regularly (in my case every 20 years)

my 88 heritage has 36k and is stock except for SE carb and samson pipes

appreciate your advice

[sandrooney]

I think they are talking about adj. pushrods.
SR

[elvislee]

OK so, HD stops useing the 86A lifters in 1994 as I understand and the last year the FXR was produced. In 1999-2000 HD decides to build the last FXR with It's remaining leftover FXR frames and the 1999 Evo motor at the York, Pa. plant and produces the last Fxr (The Fxr2/3/4) Looking at my parts manual for my 4, the lifters used were the 86A's. They musta had some of them left laying around too, God forbid they (MOCO) put substandard parts in a high $ machine just for the sake of getting rid of them. They wouldn't really do that would they?     Only got 11k on the bike but changin cam in two months and will replace the A with the B then and also change to the B-138 Torrington bearing. Still trying to decide if I want to go adjustable pushrods or stay stock. 

[smittyon66]

elvislee,
SE adjustables are the only way to go IMHO. To reuse the stock pushrods, you have to pull the front motor mount to get clearance to get the rocker boxes off. With the adjustables, just cut the stock pushrods with a set of bolt cutters and put the new pushrods in.

[elvislee]

elvislee,
SE adjustables are the only way to go IMHO. To reuse the stock pushrods, you have to pull the front motor mount to get clearance to get the rocker boxes off. With the adjustables, just cut the stock pushrods with a set of bolt cutters and put the new pushrods in.

Yea smitty, my dilemma though a little one is this. My front top rocker cover is peeling chrome a spot about the size of a nickel. I want to replace the cover so I'm thinking If I do that with the cam change I can go ahead and drop the motor and use stock/oem rods since the covers are coming off anyway.

My second option is since my rocker cover gaskets (Upper, lower, and middle were replaced just 4k mi ago) and no leaks, I'm thinking I can just replace the front rocker cover since I think I don't have to drop the motor to replace that one and then just tighten the new cover up and as you said, cut the old stock push rods and install SE adjustables. The only thing I'm wondering about this is do I have to replace the upper rocker cover gasket if I go this route or can I just remove the rocker cover, replace the cover on the existing gasket and go on with my business?

[crazylore]

I went with Andrews Adjustables chromoly when I did my cam change......easy to install..no problems...good reply Trip