Hi,
I am currently looking at a used 2014 CVO Limited in great shape with 23,800 miles on it. I rode the bike and it rides great. I believe it is a good deal at $16 K. After my research I am super paranoid now about this lifter issue. Should I be OK to buy if I take it straight to have the lifters changed? Just dont want to get stuck with a pig in a poke. I have been waiting for a few years to buy a nice CVO Limited that won’t put me in the poor house, but the lifter issue has me spooked now. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

my buddy had his 2016 CVO Limited 110 lifters fail costing him a new motor

 

You can always replace the lifters as a maintenance item, many do on the 110 motor at 20 -30 k miles. If the bike has been maintained at regular service intervals, I wouldn’t let that stop me. I’ve had several 110 CEO’s (2007, 2010, 2013, 2016) and ran them hard up to 40k miles with zero major issues but I maintain my bikes by the book.

 

I believe lifter replacement is either a 20K or 25K recommended maintenance to replace on the 110 motors. They failed on my 09 CVO RG at 47 K miles, on my 15 CVO RGU at 44K, the day before the factory 2 year warranty expired.

 

Just replace them. With the service manual it will take about 4 hours and 3 adult beverages of your choice. Took me about 3.5 hours to do a stage 2 on a 103 TC the one and only time I did it, taking time to watch a video and refer to manual. New lifters, cam, inner berrings, inner/outer tensioners, etc. (not including fighting to realign the exhaust and heat shilds properly.) Used SE adjsutable rods, did not pull heads. Odds are great that you are smarter than the tech at teh shop, so why not give it a stab....

 

If you plan on keeping the bike and putting 6 figure miles on it, call Scott @Hillsidecycle.com. He can rework the heads and put beehive springs in. Bumped compression up to 10.5:1. I went with the S&S 570 cams. Larger throttle body and injectors. Peak torque at about 3200 rpm and carries it to redline. It's a blast to ride. I have no worries with almost 15k miles on it now (50k total on the bike). No plans to replace it. Runs cooler too.

 

Call the dealer and get a price for replacing the lifters and negotiate the price down to cover it. I would not hesitate to buy the bike if everything else is good. Just replace them every 20K miles and enjoy the bike.

 

I'm in the exact same boat. I purchased a 2014 CVO Ultra Limited here in Ontario Canada with 44,000 miles on it just last Sat. I don't even have the bike yet . Waiting for them to certify it. Apparently the shop I purchased from has about 17 other bike purchased before me that need to be certified so I'm in the que sort speak. Hope to get it early next week and I'm worried about the lifters as well after reading up on all the issues.

 

This really isn’t a big deal. If it is the bike you want just run it in for new lifters and be on your way into the sunset.

 

Don't disagree with the previous posters and would replace the lifters ASAP but would add, DO NOT replace the lifters with OEM lifters. Pick up a set of Johnson Hy-Lifts from WFO Larry, AKA, Larry's Motorcycle and Machine. These lifters are Johnson but built to Larry's specifications and the choice of many builders and DIYers. Either the Slow Leakdown or the Slow Leakdown with pin oiling.https://www.larrysmotorcyclemachine.com/lifters.html