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[Keats]

If you just want a better lifter, and not necessarily a "racing" part, why not try a set of the lifters that came with the early Twin Cams, before Harley switched to the cheaper Delphi/GM stuff they use now?  For years engine builders in the know recommended just sticking with the stock lifters versus all the hype infused overpriced stuff.  That isn't true anymore with the cheapened stock parts, but I understand you can still buy the original design lifters from a company called AMS.  And the price isn't much different than what you pay for a set of current stock lifters.
 
Jerry

That is where I got mine
http://www.automotivemachine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=53

[HD Street Performance]

Best, Wood

Fine for most builds:
Stock
S&S

Don't waste your money on them:
Feuling
AMS

Don't buy:
SE / Jims

[Herko]

One of the best we've seen, is the new Wood directional roller lifter.
Scott

Agreed. Many fundamental reasons this is so.
Also, they were designed and built from the ground up with the Twin Cam in mind.

[Rooster]

Seems like we need to change out lifters about every 20k as a lot of them seem to let go about 20-25k. Have four riding buddies that all had failures at 25k area this summer. One guy thought he better check his before leaving on a trip and was glad he did one was going bad at 23k prolly would have left him on the side of the road. I know it shouldn't be like this but seems lately a lot of lifter failures and not just one brand.

[HD Street Performance]

What "lets go"?
Ever take one apart?

[Rooster]

I did take out the ones in my Jim's 131 but they were HD not Jim's. And watched as my friend took his out just to see and the ones I have seen had sticky wheels, wobble wheeels and one that had worn down where it looks like it has thin shoulders on both sides, Those were S&S in a 100ci S&S motor.

[HD Street Performance]

The 131 OK that would be a candidate for the Wood lifters.
The other motor is an EVO and that starts a whole new thread.

[Rooster]

I did notice just as I was told the Jim's lifters are a bit noisy. I think I will run them for a while then change out later. I know the S&S Motor is an Evo, and a couple of others that had problems were Evo's also, all were close friends. Anyway are the Woods lifters quiet? And would there be any other advantage to them?

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

The reason for them recommending the adjustable pushrods has to do with the nonstandard amount of preload.  Normally, the pushrod length should be such that the piston in the lifter is centered (.100" of the .200" total travel).  The Wood folks recommend adjusting the pushrod to .120"-.130".  I've seen other people recommend adjusting for as much as .150".

Considering all the various factors, a one piece (nonadjustable) pushrod like what you already have is superior.  Lighter, less likely to suffer failure, etc.

If you just want a better lifter, and not necessarily a "racing" part, why not try a set of the lifters that came with the early Twin Cams, before Harley switched to the cheaper Delphi/GM stuff they use now?  For years engine builders in the know recommended just sticking with the stock lifters versus all the hype infused overpriced stuff.  That isn't true anymore with the cheapened stock parts, but I understand you can still buy the original design lifters from a company called AMS.  And the price isn't much different than what you pay for a set of current stock lifters.

BTW, the part of the lifter that fails and wipes out engines is the roller.  I'd be more inclined to look for the best design in terms of the roller, roller axle, and bearing than any "supposed" performance advantage hyped by all these companies.  The infamous failures with Jims and SE lifters were caused by the rollers, just like the ones we hear about these days with the Harley -B lifters. 

 
Jerry

The Wood lifters want .120"-.130" to be set per them, and .140-.150" for OE lifters.
The Wood lifters are manufactured by folks that supply valvetrain products to www.jesel.com.
Scott

[Unbalanced]

Rooster,

FWIW, I wouldnt wait, when I get back from my trip I am I will send you some pictures of how the Jim's lifters ruined a cam by sliding instead of rolling and got so hot they blued the cam lobe and etched it.

[harleycharlie1992]

Rooster,

FWIW, I wouldnt wait, when I get back from my trip I am I will send you some pictures of how the Jim's lifters ruined a cam by sliding instead of rolling and got so hot they blued the cam lobe and etched it.

what model jims lifter was that? they have a few different models:powerglide; powerglide 2,ect. I've heard good things about the powerglide 2 lifters

[Rooster]

I don't know which ones I have as my motor was just rebuilt by Jim's couple of months ago.

[Unbalanced]

Power Glide 2

[geezerglide]

Are not the Power Glide 2 Lifters the same ones as SE Lifters?

In my Jims 120 which was in my 03 Pseudo SE Road Glide, it was the lifters that grenaded the engine. Yes, Jims at that time replaced the engine.

geezerglide

[Heatwave]

Power Glide 2

I assume these are different lifters from the new "Directional roller" lifters that were just recently released by Wood....