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[brassspike]

I recently replaced my lifters with S&S premiums and used their "time saver" pushrods. After having to modify the tubes, I still had a little contact in the rear intake tube. Tonight I pulled the rear pushrods to see any witness marks and remedy the issue. Here is what I found.
I always thought the pushrod rode inside the entire socket. If you magnify the pictures you can see that there is a wear pattern (ring) on the pushrod and in one case the ring is irregular. The other picture shows the lifter end of the same pushrod and the area around the oil passage looks like it has been slightly damaged. I don't remember that when I put them in but it could have already been there. It is below the wear mark of lifter contact.
So, those that have the experience with these valve trains, do I have a problem here or should I put it back together?

[brassspike]

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[harley2001]

I recently replaced my lifters with S&S premiums and used their "time saver" pushrods. After having to modify the tubes, I still had a little contact in the rear intake tube. Tonight I pulled the rear pushrods to see any witness marks and remedy the issue. Here is what I found.
I always thought the pushrod rode inside the entire socket. If you magnify the pictures you can see that there is a wear pattern (ring) on the pushrod and in one case the ring is irregular. The other picture shows the lifter end of the same pushrod and the area around the oil passage looks like it has been slightly damaged. I don't remember that when I put them in but it could have already been there. It is below the wear mark of lifter contact.
So, those that have the experience with these valve trains, do I have a problem here or should I put it back together?

Is it wore or polished?

[brassspike]

Polished. They have only been in a few hundred miles. I was just thinking, do roller lifters rotate the push rods? If not that might account for the pattern.
The stockers are polished so there is no visible contact pattern. Do the pushrods make full contact with the socket or just that ring in the pictures?

[Dan_Lockwood]

Polished. They have only been in a few hundred miles. I was just thinking, do roller lifters rotate the push rods? If not that might account for the pattern.
The stockers are polished so there is no visible contact pattern. Do the pushrods make full contact with the socket or just that ring in the pictures?

This is what I've seen in cars and in the V-Twins, this may be different.  The pro's here will have more knowledge directly relating to the Harley.

Flat lifters, either hydraulic or solids, will rotate in their holes due to the contact surface of the cam to the lifter base.  All roller lifters stay oriented in their holes and you will not see a rotation of anything within the valve train.  If you do get any rotation, it will be purely random and should not be expected.

[brassspike]

Thanks Dan. I guess they don't run fully down in the  cups unless worn out. I'll deal with the tubes rubbing and reinstall.

[sadunbar]

Inspect your lifter cups.  If you see nothing abnormal, I'd not replace anything...   

[brassspike]

Thanks guys! I changed out the S&S top tubes back to the stock ones and no problems with rubbing. I was a little concerned about the witness marks on the tips of the pushrods but that's apparently not a problem. If there are no leaks with the shorter upper tubes, I'm good to go!
I really never thought about roller lifters not rotating the push rods.