Lifter ?

[Mr. Wright]

I'm fixin to change out my lifters, and I thumbed thru the manual and didn't find the answers I was looking for.
1. What do I need to do to the lifters before installing? Do I need to get oil into them some how? I would think they would need oil in them before I adjust the valves.
The reason I replacing them is because I have an oil leak and have to remove the lifter blocks any way. When I removed the valve covers, and was looking at the o-ring type gasket, I noticed two flaps on it. This brings me to question #2
2. If this gasket was bad, even though it wasn't leaking to the out side, would it not cause excessive oil to come out the air cleaner?
I'm replacing them anyway, but I know others have had excessive oil coming out of their air filter. and
3. the push rod o-rings. Is it best to install them dry or?

 

[BWG56]

#1- should get some oil in them, via c-clamp or overnight soaking.

#2-oil out the air cleaner, I would believe your tank is overfilled.

#3- always lube an O-ring prior to install unless its used as gasket

 

[Mr. Wright]

Thanks Ker,
It's been many a year sence I've done any engine work. As soon as I read soak em over night, I was like DUH, I've done that before.
As far as the oil tank being over full, I know it isn't. Last summer I had the bike completely tore down. The tank was empty, the engine was spun over to remove the old excess oil, and the oil cooler was blown out. When I filled it with oil, I didn't add any extra, to compensate for the oil cooler, and I been many hundreds of miles with no oil coming out.
This just started back in May, on a weekend road trip on interstate. It only does it when I'm running hard,(which is most of the time). Exhaust is dry, and it doesn't smoke, and the plugs look great.

 

[Tom Chop]

How many miles?

 

[V]

While you have it apart its a good time to install some Time Saver or Quickie pushrods. Also when putting back together would be good to find a couple of lifter block alliagnment tools.

 

[Mr. Wright]

Right on V, made the alinement tools last week. Can't justify the push rods this tear down. I'm not seeing alot of wear, but I read somewhere S&S says to replace them at 25000. When I acquired this bike in a box, the speedo was not part of the deal. So I'm just changing them because I'm in there.

 

[Mr. Wright]

I just wanted to up date this thread in case someone is looking for answers.
1. When installing lifters, put them in with lube on the outside, no oil in them. This way you can adjust them faster, by not having to let them bleed down.
2. If you have an older bike, that doesn't have the hl2t limiters, in the lifters. Make sure you know what your installing. My new lifters had the same # printed on the side, as my old ones had, but the new ones came with the limiters. (Thanks Andrew, after you mentioned that, I dug thru the trash and found the box.) There is a differant valve adjustment proceedure.
Here's the link that finely made me slap myself on the forehead.

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/technical/8172-tappets.html?highlight=hl2t