I was running my boat yesterday on the river and cruising around 3500 rpm.  All of a sudden I had this loud ticking so I shut it down.  It sounded to me like a lifter or something collapsed and not a rod knocking around because it was a light ticking.  Then the ticking stopped but the engine had a miss to it at high rpm kinda like a cylinder wasnt functioning right.  So I went out this morning to investigate further. I fired it up and no ticking.  Still has that little bit of a miss in it but it runs smooth.  Took the valve covers off.  Everything is tight.  Ran it with the valve covers off for a few seconds and everything looks good and getting oil to all rockers.  Is it possible that a hydraulic lifter has partially collapsed or anything like that.  What are all of you people's opinions on what this sounds like to you?  Thanks Ryan

you want to go with me elwood?

when is a good time and place to put it in the water for you at?

i called you # no one there call me 928 763 6942 Elwood

So the lifter problem was actually a weak spring problem.

A little late (glad you found the problem) but that sounds just like what happens to mine

I was told the exact same thing, need new stronger springs and anti bleed-down lifters

We changed all 16 springs oops I watched Ryan change the springs , His heads had big
plugs and I couldn't find leak down adapter I made 1 from one his plugs. A couple of spring
would not even close valve, Ran motor on trailer and I could here rocker noise, We used my
compressor air to replace springs on motor good thing it gave US good read on heads they
all sealed OK to remove the springs. Old springs where less than 90 lb and he could turn them on head, new springs that I had ran 110lb  plus and were taller by buy at least 1/8, now
all he has to do is retest, Love my stud mount spring puller drops over center to hold spring down, He did all 16 springs in an hour.

Fixed it for ya

2sav