Club 80-90 Forums

Ok
So we're moving closer to new engine refit
The new engine has been splendidly returned to good health by T3volution
My request is for some experience with hydraulic lifters.
It is clearly evident that the lifters are empty of oil as I can compress it's 4mm of travel (soft lifter) using the rocker ATDC.
I read Boston Bobs and Richard Atwells guide to hydraulic lifters in particular start up from rebuild.
Both recommend a 6 thou gap so that the piston in the lifter travels its full stroke and fills it expelling ALL the air.
I do respect this knowledge and will use it unless another way is as logical
Once they are pumped up I will set them to 1.5 turns in from zero lash, I can see that logic too, in that this is about half the distance that the piston inside the lifter can travel. If you use too little preload you will stress the lock ring that holds the lifter together when the lifter socket makes contact with it. If you use too much preload, the plunger may bottom out at first, then as the lifter pumps up to compensate the valve may not close properly and compression, performance and valve life will suffer.

But my quest is for experience of rebuilt engine start up settings for the adjusters.
If anyone can impart any experience I would be grateful

Personaly I'd just set preload and save yourself the bother of doing it twice.
Its worked for me.
Can you see any professional mechanic wasting time doing this?

I take your point Paul
But I'm not a prof mech and I can afford the time to do it.
Trapped air in the lifter can cause issues I'm sure
I am leaning toward setting the lifters at 1.5 and see what happens but both these old very knowledgeable lads have had more experience than me for sure.

And more experience than me too but I personally can see no need to set a gap
If you.have the time no harm in starting with say half a turn.
everytime you readjust with more preload you have to wait for them to drain back to closed valves can take hours.

OK
I think I may just treat them as a drained lifter and set them at 1.5 turns in
Then run it around for half an hour

Hello,

kevtherev wrote:Ok
But my quest is for experience of rebuilt engine start up settings for the adjusters.
If anyone can impart any experience I would be grateful

My 20 € centimes worth..

Firstly, you are not only trying to fill the tappet, but also setting the valve timing..

Secondly, you might as well go round the thing 3 times while the engine is out,and again after 100 kms.

Mark flywheel at tdc and 180 degrees. set to tdc, dizzy at no 1 cylinder on the cap.

Set nr 1 cylinder at contact plus 1/2 turn.

turn anti clockwise 1/2 turn ..set nr 2..

turn anti clockwise 1/2 turn..set nr 3

turn anti clockwise 1/2 turn..set nr 4.

Do it again..

then run engine 20 mins till the rattles have died down.. then ease off and set to 1 to 1 1/2 turns.

recheck at 100 kms.. 1 1/2 turns is good.

Why anticlockwise... less backlash in the setting..

Cordialement,

Hello Sarran
Many thanks for your reply
Your advice is similar to Boston Bob and Richard Atwell.