Motorcycle Repair: Shovelhead engine tapping, hydraulic lifters, hydraulic lifter

Question
The bike is a '70 electra glide.  When it gets warmed up, the engine tap, tap, taps.  It's annoyong and embarassing.  At the end of the riding season I was advised to try a heavier weight motor oil.  This just seems to me to be a bandaid.  I'd like to get a mechanic to address the problem over the winter but I don't know what they should or should not try, or what a fair price range would be.

I'd like some advise, please.  Further, as I am not a mechanically inclined guy, feel free to explain it to me "like I was a 6 year old".

Thank you,
Deacon

Answer
You never mentioned if you have hydraulic lifters or solid lifters. So I tell you about both.
First, if you have solids you are going to get some tapping. It just inherent of solids. Putting in heavier oil will help some, but not much.
If you have hydraulic then you probably have one that is not pumping up all the way which would cause the noise.Most harleys have the ticking sound, its from the valve lash, or the play in the pushrod, and when it hits the rocker are it makes a noise. Most all the shovel motors do this.
Now to the repair, you can change the hydraulic lifter out with new ones which will help withthe noise.Make sure you buy good ones, like Jims, and that should help. The cost for the lifters are around 80.00 each and you will need four of them. I cant tell you the cost for labor, dure to the fact it is different all over the country, but I would charge around 150.00 for the service.
Hope this helps
Mike