I'd rather do it now than later. I hear S&S has good lifters but I've never used them.

 

Not sure what that would be. It's pretty straightforward. Unless you are using heads that have been decked or you're changing head gasket thickeness I can't think of too much that would affect the pushrods otherwise.

I used S&S on mine and all has been well with about 1500 miles so far.

 

genuine James top end gasket kit, and the shop only took .003" off the heads to square them. He assured me it wouldn't affect being able to use factory valve train. I will look into the S&S. Thanks again.

 

So, there is no play (lash) in the front cylinder valve train? Only the rear, and both valves? Have you checked the front cylinder at compression TDC to see if there is play? Let it sit over night and check again? Seems very odd to have two bad lifters out of four, and both ended up on one cylinder.

John

 

well if these are bad, it would actually be 3 out of 4 because I had to get a replacement for the one on the rear cylinder that stuck collasped. The front two have actually been sitting for over a week since i ran it, and i get no movement at all. Push rods will turn with needle nose pliers, I can't get my fingers in there to turn them by hand, but they seem a little tight.

 

You gave them a fair shot with the first lifter. That second lifter looked like they're using sponges for plunger springs.

 

Update..........
took the top end back down to the heads again and checked over all the parts and reassembled. Still had the same results but i bit the bullet and decided to run it. This time i ran it with the valve covers off. To my surprise and relief all 4 lifters pumped up almost immediately and oil was flowing great after about 30 seconds. So I buttoned everything up and I'm pleased to say it's running beautifully and the lifters are nice and quiet.

Just wanted to be sure I wasn't leaving the impression that Larry's lifters were crap. They seem to be very nice. So just a few more things to address and I should be done. Thanks to everyone for their input, it's greatly appreciated.

 

Congratulations!

John

 

I jinxed myself. S&S lifter failed a couple hundred miles later. I am in the market for new lifters now but unsure what brand to go with. My thoughts was Johnson hayloft 2313SE. I remembered this thread and that is what Larry sells.

How have these been now that things got worked out? I was thinking about these or fueling lifters as at least you can talk to someone if they fail based on what I have heard from people. I tried to contact S&S and got nothing. They're under warranty but I can tell there will be no love.

 

I've got no complaints at all. I've only put limited miles on the bike, but all is good. Lifters still nice and quiet. I can hear the carb sucking air more than I can the lifters.