Blockheads Really Do Run Forever.....

[ModelABob]

Just goof'n around again...something I'm good at.

ANF/Ride Safe

[Killer]

How long is forever?

[guido4198]

I only got 185,000 outta the original motor in my '85. 
Maybe I'll have better luck with the '99 we dropped in her.   

[kickstart]

LOVE MY EVO

better gas mileage and less trouble than a TC

BTW I like the new forum

[Caper]

I don't think your gonna see very many Twinkies log that many miles and still have original crank in em. Did a top end hop up on mine at 80K and the bottom end SWL's were within spec with room to spare,well over 100K now still runs like a champ.

[Bruno-Katz Fokkerpilot]

I got 35,000 on my `97 Fatboy, [Hey this is England, it rains alot] Do you think it`s about time to change the lifters yet?

[Caper]

Does your bike still have the stock cam?? I was told the life expectancy of the lifters is around 25,000 miles, but I know some that went a lot longer. If you're religious with oil changes and you don't hear any ticking at start up, you could prolly get more outta them, but yeah, it would be a good time to change them. Unless I was doing a cam swap I wouldn't go in there just for lifters unless I thought they were on the way out.

[Trip]

If they,re the "A" lifters...get them outa there now...25k is pushin it...no matter how many times you've changed your oil...its not an oil related problem.

[ModelABob]

Trip,

What's the skinny on "A" lifters?

AMF/Ride Safe

[Caper]

If they,re the "A" lifters...get them outa there now...25k is pushin it...no matter how many times you,ve changed your oil...its not an oil related problem.

  I think it was 94 HD went to the 86B lifter, but I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure by 97 they were used.
Trip how long do you feel a lifter will last?? Not being a smart azz,just want another opinion.

[Trip]

The A lifters are good for maybe 20k...then the wheels start falling off...the needles will break....sometimes even before 20k....Harley also changed the spring pressure and piston size for the B lifters...you can identify which is which by looking at the valve retainer clips..one is a funky "piece of wire" and the newer one is a righteous Circlip/// { and make sure you change the cam bearing while you,re in there...get that junk INA outa there..stock motor or not)

[ModelABob]

So my '94 FLSTN Softail should have the good "B" lifters in it, right?  I've played the game with lifters going bad on my Pan and it won't no fun!   When I use to ride a lot
I would change lifter rollers every two years no matter how many miles I rode. Hmmmm.....I guess I'll have to pull some pushrod covers before to long and see what's
inside.   Thanks for the info.

AMF/Ride Safe

[Trip]

It "should" have B lifters ..yep...you dont need to loosen the pushrod to check..just clear the oil and look with a flashlight...the retainer will tell you A or B...( assuming you have adjustables)

[Trip]

The one on the right is what you don't want..

[ModelABob]

Trip,

I have no idea if I have adjustables or not, adjustables are not stock, yes/no?  I have
not had this scooter that long (bought it used with an honest looking 16,500 miles on speedo) and have done adsolutely "zero" work on it save for installing a clutch cable e-z pull.  Any other way I can tell?

AMF/Ride Safe

[Trip]

Real easy....pull the pushrod cover up and see if theres a nut on the end of the pushrod(in the lifter block)..if theres no nut and the pushrod is "smooth"..then you,ve got factory pushrods IE:non-adjustables .....either way, if you clear the oil off the lifter ..you should be able to see ....i,d bet you,ve got stock lifters and in 94...they were type B...usually.....any B lifter should be changed at 40-50 anyway ...imo.

[ModelABob]

Trip,

Duh......pull up cover and see if locknot there, Duh! I should have known that, thanks anyway, I appreciate it.  Does Harley sell adjustables or who makes the best aftermarket ones?

AMF/Ride Safe

[Trip]

Yeh...i like the screamin beagles...24TPI..set em at @2.5 ...stay away from the aluminum ones...and dont even think about RecTec!!

[Caper]

Trip,

Duh......pull up cover and see if locknot there, Duh! I should have known that, thanks anyway, I appreciate it.  Does Harley sell adjustables or who makes the best aftermarket ones?

AMF/Ride Safe

  There are adjustable ones and quick install. with the adjustables you still have to remove the rockerboxes to change a cam. The Quick or EZ install you don't you can leave the gas tank, rockers everything alone on the top of the engine. Crane and Andrews have Time savers and EZ install chromoly along with the SE's( I think made by Andrews). If changing the cam and the basecircle is smaller than stock you'd have to go with at least the adjustables.

[Trip]

Nah...HD SE Adjustables can be installed or removed with rocker boxes intact...."some" others, you cannot....

[ModelABob]

Trip & Caper,

Thanks for the "Harley EVO Basic Lifter Instructional Message Campaign For Old Panhead
Riders Who Are Trying To Join The 21st Century".   Sooner then later I'll do some shopp'n for A-O-Justable Steel Valve Train Pole Push Uppers.  Price will be a factor, but I think I'll lean toward scream'n beagles.

AMF/Ride Safe

[Trip]

LOL**************  Panheads Forever!!!!  ...BUT!!!...the EVO engine is, by far now...Harleys best engine...the fufu twinkies will disappear shortly as soon as HD figures out how to stop the new water cooled engines from leaking.......................LMFAO***********LOL* FMR.

[Caper]

You sure got that right Trip!! I PO Twinkie owners all the time when I tell em the EVO is the best and last of the REAL Harleys .  I also own a Twinkie but if one gotta go, I'm keepin the toughest one.
'65 Pan is absolutely my favorite bike and is what got me turned on to Harley's  when I was a kid.
  Ain't no Head like a Panhead!!

[Trip]

LOL***  Yessir!!!...my first pan was an old cop 63 outside oiler...stone stock.........................................................so i chopped it.......................................................somebody shoulda shot me...but back then, Pans and flatheads were a dime a dozen..i only paid 800$ cash for a complete dual point Panhead from the Vagos....later i had some Flattys and Shovels ..a couple more Pans......i,ve been into all of em and broke most of em!! ...The EVO is a great motor...culmination of 103 years, imo.

[fergy1940]

Well I guess IM lucky I had over 95.000 on my original A lifters. Great site by the way.
Ride safe.
Fergy