tappet oil ways?

Hi guys

Need a little help and advice.

Rebuilt a v8 engine and one of the followers (kinda wish I replaced them all now but hey ho) will not pump up. Of course it could be a knackered follower so I will replace it. BUT! If it turns out the follower is fine but the oil way that supplies it is blocked is it possible to get access to the oil way with the engine in situe and built up (other than the inlet removed to get at the follower)? Does anyone know where they get their lubrication from? Is it a small drilling that could be blocked with debris or are they just splash lubricated from the oil in the cam/valley area? Is it possible to to poke a bit of wire or something down the oil way assuming it is only a small hole etc?

Thanks in advance.

Michael

Any advice would be appreciated before I worry about pulling the intake off.

As far as I know you should never replace a single follower. All or none. You say the follower won't pump up - are you sure the lobe on the cam hasn't worn down? I know you say you rebuilt the engine but how far was it stripped down?

Have you tried flushing oil? That might be an option. As for the oil way I'll need to check later.

One other thought, did you prime the new follower before you put it in?

Hi

The engine was rebuilt to a budget hence the problem. Anyway on inspection the cam followers were inspected and only one needed to be replaced. This is NOT the one that will not pump up. The can was also inspected and was only showing minor wear so was reused. The ammount of slack in the pushrod is too much for it to be the cam wear so I am confident it is just the follower at fault.

Obviously if money was no object then all wearing components would be replaced regardless and perhaps while I'm at it I would use a brand new block casting as well. But like I said it was rebuilt to a budget and that would not stretch to a full set of cam followers and a new cam.

So my original questions still stand. How are the followers lubricated to allow them to 'pump up' and is there sufficient access to this lubrication point without total disassembly of the engine should it be found to be blocked. I am still hopeful that it is just a duff follower but I would like to be prepared for the worst should the follower be found to be fine.

Michael

If tappet was worn then the cam and tappets should have been replaced. If the hydraulic tappets didn't get put back in same order= needs checking and possibly several shims fitted

If there is a lot of movement in the pushrod, maybe look at the rocker shaft, rocker arm could be moving excessively on the shaft, also, check the pushrod, try swapping for another one that doesn't have movement, only then, remove the inlet manifold.

I'm about to do the same to mine after a top end rebuild but although there was a budget with mine also, the cam and followers are new and have covered around 50 miles.

I'll post back with my findings, be nice if you do the same once you find the fault.

Hi

Thanks for your comments but as yet nobody has answered my question so after finding a local engine shop that had a Rover lump in bits I can confirm the tappets are fed with oil from an oil drilling running front to back on each side of the block. The pressurised oil travels through this drilling and enters each follower through a slot in the block casting. This slot is about 1/4 high and 3/8 inch wide.

So. In my case it is most unlikely this large oil way is blocked and I know the main gallery is not blocked because all the followers on the same bank as the problem one are pumping up. The cam is not massively worn because with the rocker cover removed and the engine running the valve is still being operated, all be it never fully opened because the follower is not pumped up to full length. If the cam lobe was worn 'round' then there would not be a significant valve movement, if any. This also shows the follower is not seized in its bore. I am now confident the problem lies only in one faulty follower and I have ordered one and will fit is as soon as it arrives.

My only follow on question regards the comment about priming the followers. When the engine was assembled I soaked the followers in a tray of clean engine oil before dropping in their respective bores. I assume from the fact that 15 out of 16 are ok then this is the correct procedure? Please confirm.

Thanks

Michael

mnicho01 said:

Hi


My only follow on question regards the comment about priming the followers. When the engine was assembled I soaked the followers in a tray of clean engine oil before dropping in their respective bores. I assume from the fact that 15 out of 16 are ok then this is the correct procedure? Please confirm.

Click to expand...

Just read this post but you seem to have pretty much answered your own question. Despite what others have said:

There should be no shims in an RV8 valve train.

There is nothing wrong with replacing an individual lifter. New cam, new lifters. Old cam, replace lifters in original positions or replace with any number of new lifters.

Soaking the lifter in an oilbath is fine to prime.

Cheers

Chris

My problem was a faulty lifter.

The lifter itself had stuck down so looks like the inlet manifold might be coming off yours too.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.