picked up a cheap freelander

picked up a cheap 2000 plate 1.8k series, the problem with it is the chap changed the hesd gasket and got it back together but it's tapping bad and he gave up. I think its valves tapping is there any way i can set the pistons to correct height without taking head off so i can check he has the the cams in the correct timing place thanks

checking the cam timing is easy. Lock the crank in the "safe" possision and look at the cam pulley marks they should face each other. Sometimes the sealer used on the cam housing can get into the follower stopping it from filling with oil which then taps a goodun !!

tried that they are way out from the marks think he but on pulleys and timing belt

It is possible to lock the crank the 180 cam degrees out. Ignore the timing mark on the crank pulley as they are often out which is why the crank is locked. It's not uncommon for the cam pulley marks to be out by half a tooth ether but any more error than that and you have a problem!! If the valves contact the pistons then that will bend the valve head which will open the follower clearance causing a loud tap!!

There is a mark on the crank pulley that you can use - it's a bit clockwise from the obvious marks. It's just a small line. You can see it here in the bottom right of the pulley, with the factory marks in the top corner. Crank it to this position, lock it and you're good to correct the timing . Just be sure that the marks on the camshaft sprockets are relatively close when you lock before you correct them. My timing is out by about half a tooth do to the head being skimmed but it makes no appreciable difference.

thanks WLJAYNE what do I line the little mark up with. thanks

jasper08 said:

thanks WLJAYNE what do I line the little mark up with. thanks

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There's a corresponding mark on the crank case. ideally one person moves the crank a little at a time until someone looking at the camshaft sprockets tells you they're lined up then you lock everything for the belt change. But in your case I guess you will have to line up the crank and then correct the sprockets before you belt it back up again. Bare in mind that the sprockets turn one half for every full turn of the crank, so make sure you are on the right half when you lock the crank!

I reccomend you buy a Haynes manual, this is all covered in great detail in it .

thank you

it'll may be the hydraulic tappets that need priming with oil or they have seized!

if he allowed them to drain or re-fitted them in another position they won't work correctly and tap like a blind mans cane.

Freelaner said:

it'll may be the hydraulic tappets that need priming with oil or they have seized!

if he allowed them to drain or re-fitted them in another position they won't work correctly and tap like a blind mans cane.

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He's right, I just this to mine and it's sweet now:

How to refurbish noisy tappets

and you lot, potentially had him put his timing out by 180 degrees

Freelaner said:

and you lot, potentially had him put his timing out by 180 degrees

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Ahem.

WLJayne said:

Bare in mind that the sprockets turn one half for every full turn of the crank, so make sure you are on the right half when you lock the crank!

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WLJayne said:

Ahem.

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Okay then