# Roller Lifter Puzzlement **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [November 30, 2016, 2:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/roller-lifter-puzzlement/96763 "2016-11-30T02:00:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 2:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/roller-lifter-puzzlement/96763/1 "2016-11-30T02:00:41Z")
On overhead valve pushrod engines with roller cams, what’s the purpose of that bent bar that appears purposed to hold the two roller-lifters together as a pair? I thought lifters were individual items, not held together in pairs. Or have lifters, roller or otherwise, always been connected in pairs like that? [http://www.jegs.com/i/Crower/258/66291H-2/10002/-1?CAWELAID=1710576551&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=15769068431&CATCI=pla-221923208951&catargetid=230006180037474576&cadevice=c&gclid=CNChoZawz9ACFROUfgodFWoL4Q](http://www.jegs.com/i/Crower/258/66291H-2/10002/-1?CAWELAID=1710576551&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=15769068431&CATCI=pla-221923208951&catargetid=230006180037474576&cadevice=c&gclid=CNChoZawz9ACFROUfgodFWoL4Q) ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/roller-lifter-puzzlement/96763/2 "2016-11-30T02:03:39Z")
Roller lifters have to stay in alignment, that’s what the bar is for. Regular lifters rotate. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 2:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/roller-lifter-puzzlement/96763/3 "2016-11-30T02:24:31Z")
+1 to @texases rotating about the cam follower on roller lifters is a baaad thing! The tie-bar is a must. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/roller-lifter-puzzlement/96763/4 "2016-11-30T02:36:32Z")
OK, I see what you mean. Yes, roller-lifters are not as symmetrical as cylinder-shaped normal lifters. The little wheel on roller-lifters has to be pointed in the same direction as the cam lobe is moving past it. Otherwise, well I wouldn’t even want to think about what would happen, it would definitely be bad … lol. … Thanks for the explanation! ---
**Author:** ![MY\_2\_CENTS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/22d042/32.png) [@MY\_2\_CENTS](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MY_2_CENTS)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 5:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/roller-lifter-puzzlement/96763/5 "2016-11-30T05:03:12Z")
Another method used (by GM) is to use a lifter that has two flat sides on the upper end of the lifter which rides in a composite guide with corresponding flat sides ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/c/c66a8cc73fb6bea8d29b0cb319299b2f4fde426b.jpg)to keep the lifter oriented properly. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 5:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/roller-lifter-puzzlement/96763/6 "2016-11-30T05:22:19Z")
The first example is the retro-fit roller lifter for classic engines. Most factory engines that began using roller lifters in the eighties use guide plates for lifters like the one above. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 5:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/roller-lifter-puzzlement/96763/7 "2016-11-30T05:24:08Z")
Irrelevant to the question, which has already been beautifully answered by other posters, but I had to laugh when I saw that the Jegs catalog said “Mechanical Servere Duty”. I guess the proofreader was off that day. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 2:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/roller-lifter-puzzlement/96763/8 "2016-11-30T14:43:48Z")
+1 to TSM … not a day goes by that I don’t see an example of that in “print”. You’d THINK spell-checker would solve that problem but nooooo! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/roller-lifter-puzzlement/96763/9 "2016-11-30T18:19:25Z")
At least it’s easily updated. I see professional signs on businesses during my daily commute that are spelled wrong. You’d think a professional sign maker would at least question the spelling- A bridal shop advertising COSTUME dresses. A gas station selling lobster SANWITCHES. An oriental restaurant advertising Asian CUSINE. The list goes on… ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 6:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/roller-lifter-puzzlement/96763/10 "2016-11-30T18:22:25Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > A gas station selling lobster SANWITCHES. Maybe the lobsters are guaranteed sorceress-free!😄