Lifter Going Bad - 09 96"

[Grillfish]

Started two weeks ago.  At start up, sounds like rollers on metal for 40 seconds then quiets down.  This happens if I leave it over night or if I leave it for an hour or so.  One of the lifter(s) going bad?

Sorry for the low quality video, but the roller sound starts goes away around 37 seconds and seems normal to me at 40 seconds.  This video was a start up that was left over night from riding on Sunday, about 24 hours.

I have the ESP for another year.  I have the SE Pro tuner  and other stage 1 items (intake and exhaust).  25,000 miles and oil changed every 3500 miles with M1 V-twin 20/50 and HD filter.

Thoughts?

[Durwood]

I'd be taking that apart soon.

[Matt C]

  Like before you ride it again! That's a disaster waiting to happen...

[Shazam7561]

If it were me and I could still ride I would cut the pushrods and install a new set of lifters and quickie pushrods thats if you dont want to disassemble the top end to remove the pushrods. Hell you might as well do cams now seeing how you already have a tuner.

[bigfoot5x]

Why fool with it at all? If you have the Extended warranty, take it in and let them fix it for $50. If they determine it is the lifter going bad they will fix it. You might talk to the dealer about maybe getting cams swapped while they are in there. I had a 2000 model that had the tensioners go out. While they were in there we did a little negotiating and I had new cams done for the cost of parts and maybe an hour of labor.

[Ohio HD]

They will probably fix it under warranty as stated. But they will also put 'C' lifter(s) in the motor. Better than a bad lifter, is about all they are.

[lonewolf]

Is it doing it everytime after an hour?

[gonenorth]

What does the oil pressure gauge show on start-up, after a few seconds and at 45 seconds or so?  I agree that since you have ESP you should take it in unless you want to void it. 

[PoorUB]

My 2010 ultra would make a simular noise for the first 30 seconds on start up. I tore it down this winter and found nothing wrong that I could blame the noise on. IMO, it was the cam chains slapping around untill the tensioners got pressurized with oil. I am curious if it has stopped now with differnt cams, same tensioners.

[mtrhead269]

Either take back to the dealer or replace the lifter before the needle bearings seize an d go everywhere. The lifters are only good for about 25k

[Grillfish]

Thanks everyone.

Few responses...

I do plan on calling the local dealer and dropping it off to let them look at it this week (it's a short 10 mile ride).  If the dealer installed the SE Pro and downloaded the map and I did the DIY back yard tune with Smart Tune, will I get grief and they say my warranty is void?  Hope not, but if they do, Kirby's shop is 15 minutes from me and I'll be giving him a call to see if he can look at it (heck, tax time and might have some extra change around).

If they do need to fix it I was also thinking about having them do cams and pay for the parts and minimal labor (if they agree).  I'll also ask them to check the runout to see if things are in spec.

I was thinking about what lifter they would put in it, darn "C" lifters sounds like.  Would you recommend the upgraded SE lifter if I can pay the difference over the "C" lifter?

An hour seems to be the magic timeframe.  Anything sooner, I hear it for a second or two and goes away.

Oilpressure at start up is around 35+.  Also oil pressure at idle and while riding as not changed in the 2 weeks of the sound starting and doesn't use any oil.

Thanks again.

[Durwood]

I wouldn't want any of the Harley lifters... JMO

[Hillside Motorcycle]

Even if you have to pay a bit extra, I'd request S&S lifters, and not for nothing, a set of their adjustable pushrods to load that lifter to .140".
Smooth sailing after that, as long as it IS a lifter acting up.
Scott

[2006FXDCI]

I agree , just put a set of standard S&S lifters in a friends bike they were around $130 . Cheap piece of mind and i got them from Kirby .

[Eglider05]

Even if you have to pay a bit extra, I'd request S&S lifters,
Scott

Ya know what happens when you do that? They tell you okay but your warranty is voided (non HD parts). I had a friend who had the inner cam bearings take out his motor. I told him to have the crank worked by DK and the dealer said okay but it will void your warranty.

Rick

[Hillside Motorcycle]

Even if you have to pay a bit extra, I'd request S&S lifters,
Scott

Ya know what happens when you do that? They tell you okay but your warranty is voided (non HD parts). I had a friend who had the inner cam bearings take out his motor. I told him to have the crank worked by DK and the dealer said okay but it will void your warranty.

Rick

I have heard of some dealers pulling stunts like that also......

[BUBBIE]

 

THAT Close to Kirby,,,,,,,??

I would just make an appointment with Kirby and have them do New Cams  AS HE Suggest and put in gatermans like he might suggest then a tune.

NOW you'll have a sweet running bike. I would NOT worry about the warranty and be stuck with ANY HD lifter in the bike. PLEASURE and $$$'s saved further down the road.

signed....BUBBIE


Added?

Wonder IF adjustables put into that bike would adjust the noise out?

Might just be a needed adjustment on the lifter to get it by a ? spot. Set all at 3.5 Turns (about.140) when using 24Thrds. per inch, as you have "B" lifters in that 09 stock bike now...
You CAN go to 4Turns (about .166) if needed and see IF that DEEP setting will quiet the noise...

You MAY find changing the Depth on the "B" you have in there now (deeper) may totally alleviate the problem...

[Grillfish]

I was thinking about going after market lifters/pushrods, but then thought the same thing as it might void the ESP.  I've been eyeing S&S.  But I'll ask the dealer, as I called and told them I'll drop it off tomorrow mid-day.  I checked and my ESP, it goes until Dec-2015.  So we will see, hate to void it if I didn't already with the SEPST.  I have been doing my own maintenance since 5K miles and have all records if they ask.

Bubbie:  Ok, maybe 20 minutes to Kirby IF I hit all the red lights and get stuck behind a Snowbird....   

Thanks again for everyone's thoughts and recommendations.  I'll keep you posted on what I hear back. 

[2006FXDCI]

Warrantors cannot require that only branded parts be used with the product in order to retain the warranty.[7] This is commonly referred to as the "tie-in sales"

Do yourself a favor Grillfish and google Magnusson Moss warranty act , the above is a direct quote from it .

[les]

Before you take it to the dealer or tear apart the engine (like I did), try this one test.  Get the engine hot after running it a while.  Cool it down by misting with garden hose or DIY car wash.  Once you gradual cool it down, then really spray it off with cold water.  No longer than 15 minutes though.  Start it up and see if that sound is there and especially if it's really bad.

Mine had carbon.  Went through a lot of BS to finally determine that I could have fixed my engine by cleaning it out with a hose.

[Grillfish]

After dropping my RG off last Wednesday, they called me today and said, "contaminants" went through the oil.  They are replacing the lifters, cam support plate (since they said it was scored) and oil pump.  I asked if they needed to replace the cams and they said no.

Five to seven days for the parts and then install.   

ESP is going to cover it 

[Eglider05]

"contaminants" went through the oil.

Maybe they should be replacing the entire motor.

[les]

After dropping my RG off last Wednesday, they called me today and said, "contaminants" went through the oil.  They are replacing the lifters, cam support plate (since they said it was scored) and oil pump.  I asked if they needed to replace the cams and they said no.

Five to seven days for the parts and then install.   

ESP is going to cover it 

If you're able to get any details on the contaminants that would educational for us all.  Things like what was the source, where was the mistake made, what was the material of the contaminants, how could it have been prevented, etc.

[Grillfish]

I'll ask when I stop by there this weekend for a peek at it.  I'm curious too.... Maybe not getting to the root cause.

Crank run out has never been checked, should I ask them to check that too? 

I guess I've been lucky, 1200 Sporty for 7 yrs and this RG for 5 and no major issues, so all new to me....

[Grillfish]

"contaminants" went through the oil.

Maybe they should be replacing the entire motor.

Thinking that to....