Q: My 2009 Harley-Davidson Fat Bob has suddenly started to make a ‘rattling’ noise from the top-end or cylinder heads. I took it to my local Harley dealer (not to be mentioned), and they told me it’s the hydraulic lifters that need to be replaced and you just don’t want to know how much they’ve quoted me!
So I was wondering if you could send some advice my way on to what the problem could be and why is it so expensive to repair?
Corbus.
A: I have never known of all four hydraulic lifters failing at the same time, so I think you’re being fed some bullshit there. But if they have failed it will not be down to the lifters themselves, instead it will be an oil pressure problem. Perhaps the oil pump has failed, or the oil filter is blocked, because low or no oil pressure will certainly produce a very noisy top-end.
Also, if dirt has entered into the lifter assembly that could block the oil feed to it and stops the valve from fully extending. I have seen this before, and that will also make a ‘rattling’ sound. Either way it will have to be looked at before you ride it any further, or the bill could become substantially higher. Or give us a call at Bikeworx (011 792 5795), and we’ll check it over for you?
