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[kraut]

just within about 4 weeks 2 FLHTCUSE4 suffered the lifters trouble over here.

1st with just 20.000 m., fatal, new engine shipped, season end already in early September.

2nd (mine), 40.000 m, just about 5 min before 1 lifter would have caused a fatality too developed a squeaking sound like muffler suspension needing silicone oil - but definitely not from the mufflers direction. As the sound ceased in higher revs (i.e. under higher oil pressure) serious mechanical trouble was suspected - and found. Cam and lifter damaged but nothing else. German Extended Warrants covers 100 % work and 90 % parts - happy camper again in 5 days

[geezerglide]

just within about 4 weeks 2 FLHTCUSE4 suffered the lifters trouble over here.

1st with just 20.000 m., fatal, new engine shipped, season end already in early September.

2nd (mine), 40.000 m, just about 5 min before 1 lifter would have caused a fatality too developed a squeaking sound like muffler suspension needing silicone oil - but definitely not from the mufflers direction. As the sound ceased in higher revs (i.e. under higher oil pressure) serious mechanical trouble was suspected - and found. Cam and lifter damaged but nothing else. German Extended Warrants covers 100 % work and 90 % parts - happy camper again in 5 days

Kraut,

Were these the new Harley Davidson "C" lifters or the older "B" Style or aftermarket i.e JIMS SE Lifters?

geezerglide

[SBB]

Kraut,

Were these the new Harley Davidson "C" lifters or the older "B" Style or aftermarket i.e JIMS SE Lifters?

geezerglide

I would like to know that also.

SBB

[lilcoot]

It looks like replacing lifters every 15,000 miles should be required maintenance.

[grc]

It looks like replacing lifters every 15,000 miles should be required maintenance.

Well, the earlier Twin Cams had the chain tensioners that often failed at 20k and trashed the engines.  Now they have a better tensioner but the tradeoff seems to be you still have to prematurely inspect and replace parts to prevent trashing the engine, only now it's the lifters.  I wonder if the "C" in the current lifter part number stands for the country of origin?  


Jerry

[North Georgia Hawg]

Do yourself a big favor and get some good aftermarket lifters. I run Headquarters Black Ops lifters, which are very quiet. The Woods Bi-Directionals and the Feuling HP+ lifters are other options, and there are other makes as well.

Lifters are critical components, and I just don't trust the H-D lifters... I've read of too many failures with them.

[Eqcons]

just within about 4 weeks 2 FLHTCUSE4 suffered the lifters trouble over here.

1st with just 20.000 m., fatal, new engine shipped, season end already in early September.

2nd (mine), 40.000 m, just about 5 min before 1 lifter would have caused a fatality too developed a squeaking sound like muffler suspension needing silicone oil - but definitely not from the mufflers direction. As the sound ceased in higher revs (i.e. under higher oil pressure) serious mechanical trouble was suspected - and found. Cam and lifter damaged but nothing else. German Extended Warrants covers 100 % work and 90 % parts - happy camper again in 5 days

I took the precaution of changing mine a long while back, Hans.  I went for Feuling FE4000s.  Wish we had extended warranty in the UK! 

Jim

[VANAMAL]

If the C lifters were denoted by country then they would be M lifters. Made in mexico

[opee6969]

I also experienced the chirping sound at low RPM's on my '09 SEUC at 24K miles and shortly thereafter, it quit on me. The bearing in the lifter failed and it took out the cams and the oil pump. Left me sitting at Smokey Mounutain HD for about 7 hours and then back on the road for $50. Thank you ESP!!! It now has 37K and no more problems as of yet.

Opee

[kraut]

Kraut,

Were these the new Harley Davidson "C" lifters or the older "B" Style or aftermarket i.e JIMS SE Lifters?

geezerglide

09 OEM in both cases, so must have been the Bs as the C-lifters were introduced early 2010.

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

S&S lifters, predominantly, are what we use when we see the need.
Scott

[cvobiker]

I run Headquarters Black Ops lifters, which are very quiet.

Lifters are critical components, and I just don't trust the H-D lifters... I've read of too many failures with them.

Back when i had my 131, I've had bad luck with both S&S and the Jim's Power Glides lifters (noisy). I then resorted to the Black Ops combined with Smith Brothers push rods and it was night and day. The Black Ops are pretty dam quiet lifters

[North Georgia Hawg]

Back when i had my 131, I've had bad luck with both S&S and the Jim's Power Glides lifters (noisy). I then resorted to the Black Ops combined with Smith Brothers push rods and it was night and day. The Black Ops are pretty dam quiet lifters

I really like HQ Black Ops lifters. I think they may be the quietest lifters you can get. I am running the Feuling 8015 cam plate and 7060 oil pump, and the Feuling adjustable pushrods. I was going to go with the Feuling lifters as well - but I just really like the quietness of the Black Ops.

[grc]

Two different issues.  Noisy is one thing, but roller failures that trash the engine are exponentially more important.  I don't remember hearing about roller failures on relatively stock bikes in the early years of the Twin Cam, but over the past three years or so there seems to have been a big up-tick in reports.  Is it the lousy quality of the parts, is it the design that doesn't provide enough oil flow directly to the roller bearings, is it the added stress created by the cam designs, heavy valves, and springs?  I have to believe a decent manufacturer with access to well equipped labs can determine the exact cause.  My biggest question is, why has H-D been quiet on the subject, and why hasn't the ESP company been raising hell about the major repairs they've had to eat as well?

Maybe someone needs to reinvent the flat tappet and just forget rollers, at least in a Harley. 


Jerry

[JKM]

I premptively changed my lifters out when I did a cam change and adjustable pushrods.  Used S&S lifters and pushrods and it quieted down the top end noise