lifter noise

[scooter10572]

maybe someone out there has run into this,hope you like to read.I have an 03 wideglide with the following mods,1550 htcc pistons,htcc cnc heads (10.5 comp)s&s roller rockers,s/e forged support plates s/e tapered adj pushrods,converted to new style roller chains with new oil pump and kuraykyn wild things 575 cams,s/e lifters,also has a baisley spring.the problem is after the first 75 or so miles lifters started to clack,I had previously had gear drives with a feuling plate and pump and had loud clacking which after awhile found out crank has .003 runout causing gear rattle.this is why I switched to new roller chains,at first for around 75 miles motor quiet as a stocker then lifters started to clack.changed with a set of feuling hp lifters that I had in bike before but took out tryin g to get rid of the noise that i found was gear clatter,so stuck em in and bike was quiet for around 50 miles.first set of lifters in bike for awhile been adjusted umpteen times and just figured they had enuff,then feuling lifters started makin noise so I bought a new set of s/e lifters and noise returned after 50 miles.Happens when oil comes up to temp,running around 210 to 230 depending on temp and conditions.Ive went thru this motor too many times already and found nothing except lifter bore clearance thats close to out of spec but never measured thrust sides of lifter bore . Anyone ever run into this as IM OUT OF IDEAS, BIKE IS PISSIN ME OFF NOW.I know there are oversize lifters available but dont want to throw 300 more dollars away as ive wasted enuff already.Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[frisco-rigid]

Hi Scoot

It sounds to me that you've already narrowed it down to heat related and lifter-bore tolerance..

I would think if it were anything more it would show up before full operating temp..
We live and ride daily in the East Phoenix Valley, where sometimes it gets to 117*..
But,, with 2 oil coolers I keep the oil temp down to 185*..
I would hate to hear what my 120" or 127" Evo's would sound like with 230* oil temp,, they both have 640 lift cams and are already quite noisy..
Prob would sound just like yours sans the almost outa tolerance lifter bore..

If I were faced with the exact same prob and it was driving me crazy I would get the over-size lifters, fit them, and hopefully be done..

I suppose you've checked the rocker shafts and lifter wheels on all the lifters you've run.. Just checking..

Years ago I ran those S&S lifter shims that create a semi-solid lifter,, I don't remember if I liked em or not..
Prob didn't impress me cuz I haven't installed them in my new lifters,, but still something to think about..

Also-- my 80" with a 560 Hyd. cam and the 93" with solids don't make as much noise in the same conditions as the 120 and 127 with hydraulics..
So far, in my experience, my bigger motors with bigger cams seem to naturally make more lifter noise..
Wish I had more for you..

[Wrightturn]

Good morning,

I don`t have any experience with that particular cam but will look up the specs later. High lift short duration cams are going to be noisy. That does not explain the noise coming and going. I had good results with Jims big foot lifters but I can understand you reluctance to spend that kind of money.

Not sure how that combination fits together. The SE billet plate uses regular cam bearings. The new chain drive does not use cam bearings in the plate. Does that cam have the ends turned down to work with regular cam bearings ? The SE plate comes with the "new and improved oil pump". Did the Fueling pump work without mods ?
At .003 a gear drive would be noisy and there really isn`t anything you can do about it. My Dyna has gear drive. My FLHP at .0045 does not.
I am starting to change my opinion on oil coolers. Frisco has a lot more experience with radical motors. Adjust the push rods and see if it helps.

[tagrat]

If the noise doesn't occur until your oil gets warm it's probably a viscosity issue. You say your lifter bore clearance is almost out of tolerance, when the engine gets warm it more likely is out of tolerance. One easy solution is to install an oil cooler because with a higher performance motor your engine parts are working harder and generating a little more heat. Short of an oil cooler try the over sized lifters.