Roller lifter maintenance??

November 13, 2023, 12:11 PM

TOP38

Since Isky came out with their EZ roll bushed lifters, there is no maintenance! I have 600 runs on a set of 904's in my BBC, 375 on the seat and 1000 plus at max lift. Valve lash is the indicator of lifter condition, if it's stable, they are good!

November 13, 2023, 01:42 PM

Eman

How much do they charge to rebuild roller lifters?
I was wondering about the bushed lifters not having as big of a risk of catastrophic failure as a needle bearing type.

November 13, 2023, 02:25 PM

Big Steve

quote:
Originally posted by Eman:
How much do they charge to rebuild roller lifters?
I was wondering about the bushed lifters not having as big of a risk of catastrophic failure as a needle bearing type.

As a general rule About 1/2 the price of a new set

November 13, 2023, 04:33 PM

TOP38

quote:
Originally posted by Eman:
How much do they charge to rebuild roller lifters?
I was wondering about the bushed lifters not having as big of a risk of catastrophic failure as a needle bearing type.

The bushed lifters normally do not catastrophically fail, the bushings just wear like any other part. You will see this in the valve lash. When Isky came out with these I talked to them at PRI, they tested a set in an old hemi motor, no pressurized oil to the lifters, just splash. After a season of racing they got them back and some had more wear than others, so they knew which ones got enough splash oil in that motor! Even when you notice some wear from valve lash checks, it's not critical to get them out like needle bearing lifters!

November 13, 2023, 08:15 PM

183N

quote:
Originally posted by vetman:
I do mine at around 300 runs some are rebuildable the Moral one I use are and have recyled them up to 3 time they do a nice job on rebuilds sent them in thru Howards Cams

Same here, go 300 runs on Morel .904s then send them in. Have them in three engines.

One of these days we’ll try a set of the bushed ones.

November 14, 2023, 07:34 AM

BD104X

I just switched from Morel to Bam bushed. My motor is old and Morels were the hot setup when it was built, I haven't had a lifter issue in years with Morels... I had 2 sets so I would send one out to be rebuilt and just swap them when I got close to 150 runs (around .800 lift cam, Chevy-style head 582 in a dragster). I knew the bushed was the way to go but didn't feel like dropping $1,000-ish on bushed lifters when what I had was working fine but the price of getting the Morels rebuilt has been creeping up each time (nearly $500.00 last time with shipping & everything) so I finally bit the bullet & switched to the bushed. Only have about 50 runs on them so far but I plan on leaving them in there for a while....

November 14, 2023, 09:42 AM

CURTIS REED

quote:
Originally posted by BD104X:
I just switched from Morel to Bam bushed. My motor is old and Morels were the hot setup when it was built, I haven't had a lifter issue in years with Morels... I had 2 sets so I would send one out to be rebuilt and just swap them when I got close to 150 runs (around .800 lift cam, Chevy-style head 582 in a dragster). I knew the bushed was the way to go but didn't feel like dropping $1,000-ish on bushed lifters when what I had was working fine but the price of getting the Morels rebuilt has been creeping up each time (nearly $500.00 last time with shipping & everything) so I finally bit the bullet & switched to the bushed. Only have about 50 runs on them so far but I plan on leaving them in there for a while....

Bronze bushed or the coated steel bushings? Most of the people I have seen using bushings they have gotten the bronze. I am curious just how long the coated steel will go.

November 14, 2023, 10:39 AM

Toad1

My small block with 210 on the seats and 500 open and never sees 7000 RPM, I just check valve lash, over 600 runs on Howards SportMax lifters and rarely have to change valve lash. *Probably more me feeling it different than actually being different. 7/16 studs, Scorpion rockers and stud girdle. Nothing fancy. Maybe that Schaeffer's Oil helps!!
If I get time this Spring I will replace them. Springs are still within 5 lbs of new.

1100 runs on bushed Comp Cams roller lifters in the 565' BBC in dragster. Did not have to adjust one rocker arm all season. T&D Rockers.

November 14, 2023, 11:09 AM

Lenny5160

quote:
Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
Bronze bushed or the coated steel bushings? Most of the people I have seen using bushings they have gotten the bronze. I am curious just how long the coated steel will go.

Are you confusing applications? I believe the lifter bores may use bronze bushings to correct sizing/alignment, but the bushing around the lifter axle would be tool steel.

I have Isky .842 bushed lifters in my 468 with stock lifter bores. I've freshened that engine twice since it was built, and haven't replaced the lifters.

My 632 has .937 Crower bushed lifters (and bronze bushed lifter bores) and was freshened for the first time last year at ~170 runs. I did not replace the lifters in that either.

When I ran Crower HIPPO roller lifters in my previous 468 and 565, I'd replace them at every freshen.

One time I cheaped out on lifters and ran a set of Comps. That lasted 2-3 months before the engine was out to remove all the loose needle bearings.

November 14, 2023, 12:16 PM

CURTIS REED

quote:
Originally posted by Lenny5160:
quote:
Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
Bronze bushed or the coated steel bushings? Most of the people I have seen using bushings they have gotten the bronze. I am curious just how long the coated steel will go.

Are you confusing applications? I believe the lifter bores may use bronze bushings to correct sizing/alignment, but the bushing around the lifter axle would be tool steel.

I have Isky .842 bushed lifters in my 468 with stock lifter bores. I've freshened that engine twice since it was built, and haven't replaced the lifters.

My 632 has .937 Crower bushed lifters (and bronze bushed lifter bores) and was freshened for the first time last year at ~170 runs. I did not replace the lifters in that either.

When I ran Crower HIPPO roller lifters in my previous 468 and 565, I'd replace them at every freshen.

One time I cheaped out on lifters and ran a set of Comps. That lasted 2-3 months before the engine was out to remove all the loose needle bearings.

Tony, I'm not. Most bushed lifters use bronze bushing around a steel axle. I'm in no way talking about the bushings in the block.

If I'm not mistaken you can get the BAM lifters with steel or bronze bushings, both around a steel axle.

November 14, 2023, 12:22 PM

BD104X

Bronze

November 15, 2023, 04:38 AM

SP 124X

quote:
Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
quote:
Originally posted by BD104X:
I just switched from Morel to Bam bushed. My motor is old and Morels were the hot setup when it was built, I haven't had a lifter issue in years with Morels... I had 2 sets so I would send one out to be rebuilt and just swap them when I got close to 150 runs (around .800 lift cam, Chevy-style head 582 in a dragster). I knew the bushed was the way to go but didn't feel like dropping $1,000-ish on bushed lifters when what I had was working fine but the price of getting the Morels rebuilt has been creeping up each time (nearly $500.00 last time with shipping & everything) so I finally bit the bullet & switched to the bushed. Only have about 50 runs on them so far but I plan on leaving them in there for a while....

Bronze bushed or the coated steel bushings? Most of the people I have seen using bushings they have gotten the bronze. I am curious just how long the coated steel will go.

I'm 95 runs into DLC BAM lifters in my small block. It has shaft rockers and the lash has been great so far.

November 15, 2023, 07:41 AM

CURTIS REED

Thanks for the info Denis

I am running a set of Morels and have a brand new set on the shelf but have considered going to a set of DLC BAMs. I have 409 passes on the current set.

November 15, 2023, 09:44 AM

Eman

quote:
Originally posted by Toad1:
My small block with 210 on the seats and 500 open and never sees 7000 RPM, I just check valve lash, over 600 runs on Howards SportMax lifters and rarely have to change valve lash. *Probably more me feeling it different than actually being different. 7/16 studs, Scorpion rockers and stud girdle. Nothing fancy. Maybe that Schaeffer's Oil helps!!
If I get time this Spring I will replace them. Springs are still within 5 lbs of new.

1100 runs on bushed Comp Cams roller lifters in the 565' BBC in dragster. Did not have to adjust one rocker arm all season. T&D Rockers.

OK, that sounds more like a weekly bracket engine that is affordable. I was wondering when people say they swap them at 150 runs or so, that's not even a full season. Seemed a little too pricey for me.

November 15, 2023, 11:16 AM

Ken MacNicol

I ran my last set of Herbert rollers for over 2,000 runs, when pulled engine they still felt fine . About 700 on Comps now. Maybe 650 HP and shift at 6,000 rpm's

November 15, 2023, 11:50 AM

Big Steve

Maybe apples and oranges but I look at lifters like aluminum rod maintenance, they are always much cheaper to replace when they are not broken

November 15, 2023, 11:25 PM

markemark

I have Isky needle rollers in sbc . I check lash every 30 runs at most. I keep a log of any lifter that needs adjustment. I’ve never had to adjust the same lifter more than one time, never more than 2 thou, and half of them I’ve never had to adjust in 755 runs. My intention is racing to 1000 runs before engine rebuild. Cam is .665/ .635 net lift with a 7500 rpm limiter.

Here’s my first question… At what point in a needed valve adjustment would one suspect that the needle bearings are failing?

Second question….. Would / could one hear valve train noise when a needle bearing lifter is out of adjustment and starting to fail?

November 16, 2023, 05:16 AM

Bucky

Probably not helpful to most…but I went to .904 morels and it helped reduce failures. Then when I went turbo I went with a much less aggressive cam and spring combo. Maybe be I should but I don’t look at the valve trane anymore.