Adjustable Lifters

[bcatcmc]

Last year prior to installing my lifters I noticed cracking around the bottom edge of four of them, Speedway were kind enough to refund me the set ( after 2 years ) but could offer no alternative , neither could anyone else , seems like all lifters had decamped off the planet for awhile . I ended up getting 4 units from a tractor supply company ( I had the counter jockey run his vernier over them ) as fitted to N series Ford tractors. As my knowledge regarding Ford tractors could be written on the back of a postage stamp , the question is what years , and iff they were original Ford fittment or an aftermarket thing?

[kurt v]

call Johnson lifter i think they made the orig ones.

[Brian]

1939-1951, all The N series tractors , 9N, 2N, 8N ran those as factory fitted.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by bcatcmc

Last year prior to installing my lifters I noticed cracking around the bottom edge of four of them, Speedway were kind enough to refund me the set ( after 2 years ) but could offer no alternative , neither could anyone else , seems like all lifters had decamped off the planet for awhile . I ended up getting 4 units from a tractor supply company ( I had the counter jockey run his vernier over them ) as fitted to N series Ford tractors. As my knowledge regarding Ford tractors could be written on the back of a postage stamp , the question is what years , and iff they were original Ford fittment or an aftermarket thing?

[jimTN]

If you are running any adj lifter with the end screwed out that far, that is trouble and will never hold an adjustment.

[bcatcmc]

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nah, pictured is straight out of the box, never been fitted

[bcatcmc]

The reason I asked about the years and if original equipment is that in Rodger Huntington`s early 50`s book he states that Ford never offered adjustable lifters for the flathead V8 but it appears that they were available in the tractors of the era and as far as I can see were interchangeable. (. I hope someone doesn`t poke a stick in my spokes on this one. )

[Bob C]

There's nothing in the N series Ford tractor parts book showing
adjustable lifters.

[3W Hank]

My 2 cent, get a old set on a swapmeet and send them on a regrind.
I would stay away from the new stuff.
Std Henrys was 45 grams aswell.

[40coe]

I read something recently that the Ford tractor lifters are the same fitment for the V8. I looked them up on a tractor website and they were listed but were currently out of stock.

[Bob C]

I bought some adjustables years ago for a 2N but they were solid and heavy. Go to the link and check out some of the sites they show them in stock. Some look solid and some look hollow so I would call and make sure what they are.
https://duckduckgo.com/?t=h_&q=AONN-...+lifter&ia=web

[tubman]

When I bought my Iskenderian MAX1 cam and kit (cam, lifters, and springs) from Speedway many years ago, it came with the solid body lifters. I think that's what they use these days.

[bcatcmc]

Yes , it seems mostly solid these days.

Re. Post 9. Swap meets, they might exist in the State Capital but that's 1000 miles south

[Lawrie]

what would set of original Johnsons be worth.
Lawrie

[jimTN]

If they are needed for a regrind cam and do not have the thick headed screw, nothing. If being used with a stock cam, they seem to go for upwards of $100. The thick head ones are almost impossible to find any more. We are talking used ones here.

[GB SISSON]

What about a longer bolt in the case of a reground cam? It would not have the necked down area in the center that is compressed to create the interference fit, but with a thin head bolt screwed out that far perhaps there is room for a jamb nut. I've always wished there was room for a nut, but I have always used stock cams. You may have to roll the cam or crank to get at the nut, but not that much of a problem.

[leon bee]

Would lash caps be okay in a situation where they are otherwise threaded out too much?

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by leon bee

Would lash caps be okay in a situation where they are otherwise threaded out too much?

They loose their ability to stay put once they get backed out too far. A lash cap would not help the problem with loose threads. Some people peen the threads to maintain the adjustment, but from research they are best compressed endways in a vice as that refreshes the interference between the two sets of threads down in the lifter's body. Still, with them cranked high we lose the benefits of the top threads.
Edit: Actually a lash cap would keep the screw thread better engaged into the lifter's body where the interference fit works best, so I recind my earlier comment. Sometimes you gotta be driving down the road thinking these things through!

[bcatcmc]

This thread kinda meandered away from the original theme which
basically asked if anyone had any opinions of mixing and matching lifters. ( using 12 Speedway solid adjustables and 4 of N series Ford tractor solid adjustables ) photo shows the two side by side

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by bcatcmc

This thread kinda meandered away from the original theme which
basically asked if anyone had any opinions of mixing and matching lifters. ( using 12 Speedway solid adjustables and 4 of N series Ford tractor solid adjustables ) photo shows the two side by side