You cannot bend a lifter, but you can bend a pushrod. this of course is the
link between the rocker arm and the lifter.

A lifter is a billet piece of steel. It is also not the weakest link in the
valve train. Lifters can go flat and you'll know this

when you hear a clacking noise. They sell collapsable pushrod tubes and
lifters go for approx 40-bucks.   good luck

Malibu Tony

85 Westy 1.9 L