Ok, so I'm going to be starting to put my engine back together this weekend.

 

I just want to check beforehand if there are any issues with re-fitting used tappets? Do they need priming by leaving in oil? Or can I throw them straight back in?

I keep them in order as they will be worn to each lobe.

I have a little oil can I use to coat them with before putting back in place.

Sometimes I mix a little "stop smoke" and PD oil together so it's abit thicker so the oil doesn't just run off.

I then prime the engine with the injector loom unplugged but some people don't think it's needed, everyone has a different way I guess.

Yeah they're all in order for sure ha ha!

 

Just wondering about the oil inside them. Most of it has drained out by the looks of it, as they've been sat for a few weeks now. I know that some hydraulic tappets must be primed before use...

Yeah they're all in order for sure ha ha!

 

Just wondering about the oil inside them. Most of it has drained out by the looks of it, as they've been sat for a few weeks now. I know that some hydraulic tappets must be primed before use...

 

Generally speaking I squeeze 'em dry in a soft-jawed vice as this clears out any deposits and blockages and resets them to default clearances, use plenty of assembly lube and don't panic when the head is as noisy as hell at first startup.

All the above is right if you're re-using the old camshaft. If you're fitting a new cam, I'd use new cam followers.

When I clean these type of tappets I remove the insides rather than compress them.

I normally tap them down onto the wooden bench a few times and the centre drops out.

Again everyone has there way of doing it, but for the price of uprated black top double spring tappets (sounds fancy doesn't it) that don't wear as easily I'd buy them for about £25 or so.

A little over £25 I suppose, but these.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=281407317811&globalID=EBAY-GB

Fairy nuff, but it isn't necessary if the original tappets are in good nick, chocolate pattern tappets could well be hiding under that wafer thin hard black coating that often doesn't last very long.

If they are unmarked black top (revised ones) lifters then I would re-use.  I know I could have reused my old ones, but I opted to get new ones, as decided to get a new cam.

 

And yes, as mentioned, keeping in order 1 to 8 is important.  I don't think they need priming before use.  I know when my mate rebuilds mine, he puts some red gunk in a few places which helps with the lubrication in the first few seconds of first-start before the oil gets pumped around.

If they are unmarked black top (revised ones) lifters then I would re-use.  I know I could have reused my old ones, but I opted to get new ones, as decided to get a new cam.

 

And yes, as mentioned, keeping in order 1 to 8 is important.  I don't think they need priming before use.  I know when my mate rebuilds mine, he puts some red gunk in a few places which helps with the lubrication in the first few seconds of first-start before the oil gets pumped around.

 

This red gunk:

 

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/Product.do?method=view&n=473&p=639650&d=124&c=4&l=2&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Base&utm_campaign=Grease&gclid=CJCkgb6VtccCFRQatAodIUQNnQ

 

Is what I've used for years.

Cheers for the advice guys! Much appreciated

 

I don't think there is much oil left in them now, so as above I'll pop them in a vice with a socket and soft jaw to get rid of the rest.

 

Tweeks is literally on my doorstep, so all good if I need some of that

This red gunk:

 

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/Product.do?method=view&n=473&p=639650&d=124&c=4&l=2&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Base&utm_campaign=Grease&gclid=CJCkgb6VtccCFRQatAodIUQNnQ

 

Is what I've used for years.

 

That's the shizzle

I read once that new followers had a slight crown to aid the mating contact with the cam lobe - to allow a progressive contact so that by the time there is a lot of load on the cam, it is shared across the whole width. After some use the lobe and follower wear in to provide a good contact area which may be nearer to flat.

 

The issue is that an old or not-matched follower will not provide for this bedding-in process and may wear the cam by placing all the load on only part of the cam lobe. As a result the recommendation was "new cam - new followers", "old cam, old followers into the positions they came from". Or you can apparently have old followers refaced but I would be concerned about the hardened layer being removed etc.

 

Don't know how valid this issue is to our engines though.

I read once that new followers had a slight crown to aid the mating contact with the cam lobe - to allow a progressive contact so that by the time there is a lot of load on the cam, it is shared across the whole width. After some use the lobe and follower wear in to provide a good contact area which may be nearer to flat.

 

The issue is that an old or not-matched follower will not provide for this bedding-in process and may wear the cam by placing all the load on only part of the cam lobe. As a result the recommendation was "new cam - new followers", "old cam, old followers into the positions they came from". Or you can apparently have old followers refaced but I would be concerned about the hardened layer being removed etc.

 

Don't know how valid this issue is to our engines though.

VERY valid.  This is from the website selling my cam

 

"NOTE: Do not use with used hydraulic followers, during cam break in surfaces are mated and mixing new cam with old parts will ruin cam very fast."

I'm gonna be using the original cam and original tappets. Only thing I'm renewing is the bearings.

 

So will just squeeze the extra oil out and re-use

Just bleed the hydraulic lifters and refitted in the same position that they was removed from and everything will be fine Alex.