The Hi-lifts are good. That is what I have.
As I remember you only want a .030 preload, not centered like a HD lifter.
Three flats after contact?
Maybe someone else will help.......

 

Yup, definitely the CAL's from before. Them Hylift Johnsons were quiet as a mouse the whole ride I just got back from. It really made it easy to hear the piston slap at low RPM and light acceleration...

And yes, I read around .020" to .040" preload straight from the H/J website, but I went .075" just because I wanted to. My Rivera Taperlite pushrods are 40 thread pitch, which is .025" per rotation (I know what flats mean, I just lose count so rotations is easier). Technically their recommendation mostly covers lifters that are mounted within the block (small block Chevy, etc...) so there isn't any cylinder expansion to deal with. I've "heard" a Harley cylinder can grow .040" from cold to hot, which would assume a lot of the preload from the H/J recommendation. Honestly the jury's still out on this. I may even just crank it down to .100" just to see what happens. The nice thing about the Big Twin is it's much easier to play with pushrod preload than on the Sportster with the collapsible pushrod tubes. .

I also have to buy some larger pushrod tubes because them Rivera Taperlite pushrods are FAT at the bottom and my front exhaust pushrod tube lower is definitely rubbing on the nut.

 

Does anyone know the total travel of the plunger in these lifter? Are they a limited travel lifter?

 

The plunger travel is approximately .200. They are not travel limited BUT travel limiters can be added to them.
As far as adjusting them goes adjust them just like you would any others. .140 down puts the plunger right in the middle after it warms up. If you go with the limiters I adjust the pushrods until they bottom out against the limiter then back off to where the pushrod spins free & lock it down.
The recommended setting on their website is for autos. Harley motors grow as they warm up & if you don't allow for this in your setting your lifters will be noisy.

 

Last year when i installed mine, I asked Johson Hi Lift people what they wanted for the HD.
The dude told me a very slight preload number.

HyLift-Johnson, Inc
1185 E. Keating Avenue
Muskegon, MI (USA) 49442-6018
Sales and Service: (800) 441-1400 ext 500
International: +1 (352) 799-4668 ext 500
Fax: +1 (352) 799-4673

 

Funny add here... Are you a forum sponsor?

 

Nope
Was just trying to help if someone wanted to call them..................

 

I'll call today to explain ALL this to them and report back.

 

Per the phone number above, the lady specifically went to talk to their engineer who confirmed for the Harley application you'd increase the preload up to .040" - 060". This assumes the cylinder growth.

 

Thank you ! mine is in pieces and i forgot what the number is .