On a side note: RAVE says to soak lifters in oil, pumping the inner sleeve to get oil inside. Two of the new lifters wouldn't budge. This seems bad?

 

it is bad, what has you tried to use the collapses them ?

 

RAVE called for a pushrod, that's what I used. I ended up calling Crower, the manufacturer, they said they test them before shipping, so it could have been full of oil from the test. I was told to apply steady pressure to bleed them down. I did so and got I little wiggle, which was within Crowers tolerance. Some lifters also pumped far easier than others, and Crower is saying that because they are hydraulic, varying levels of residual oil from their test affects dynamics. I remain skeptical, merely because I have no prior experience with Crower to base any assumptions on.

 

do you have access to a drill press or arbor press. The way I was taught many, many, moons ago was to put the lifter in a pan of oil, put an old push rod in the drill press and use the handle to pump the lifter. Now you don't turn on the drill you just use the handle for leverage. Seem strange that 14 out of 16 lifters drained

 

The drill press is a good idea. I'll try that.