cam followers

[mmjosh]

hi there i wondered if cam followers are easy to fit just with taking the tappet chest covers off and taking of the rocckers and lifting the conrods up or do you have to do it a different way

[cadetchris]

that's the way to do it,
you might need to take off the exhaust manifold to get better access as it can be a bit fiddly
it would also be advised to recheck the valve gaps afterwards

[katy]

taking of the rockers and lifting the conrods up

Methinks it would be much easier lifting the pushrods up, rather than the conrods.

[bmcecosse]

Yes - don't go anywhere near the conrods!!!!!!! Why are you thinking of new cam followers ??? Are you changing the cam ?

[mmjosh]

thats what i meant pushrods we had someone out to check the engine because it is tapping like it was a tappet but the said it is down by the tappet chest covers so he said it must be one of the followers starting to break up

[bmcecosse]

Hmmm - well - I doubt it! Why would they 'tap' ? They are held in contact with the cam all the way round the egg shape by the valve spring - and then gravity should keep them in contact with the base circle. But by all means inspect them - it's not difficult. Most of these odd 'tapping' noises are either piston slap - or worn rocker gear. That's assuming it's not a big-end bearing of course. What's the oil pressure at hot idle ?

[mmjosh]

yes but the engine was all rebuilt and replaced all with new stuff apart from the followers

[bmcecosse]

I would assume if you had it in 'bits' - you would inspect the cams and the followers then...........

[mmjosh]

no the engine is in the car

[Pikey]

Id be surprised if it was the cam followers, its probably a worn rocker shaft or the head of the rockers are badly worn and you cant accurately adjust the tappets properly, due to the wear on the heads.

Whats it like when its really warm though.

Flatten the rocker heads with a stone or use a clickadjust

Steve B

[mmjosh]

still got an annoying tapping noise when warm and we had the rockers all checked out and there all fine

[bmcecosse]

" no the engine is in the car " - not understanding ?? You say the engine was " all rebuilt and replaced all with new stuff " - that's when the cam followers and cams should have been inspected - whether the engine was in the car or out! Rockers checked out- by whom ?? You really need to take them out to inspect the faces and the bearings properly. Note - you can do this and lift the pushrods WITHOUT loosening the head nuts - so no worries about the head gasket being disturbed. The rocker shaft usually wears much more than the rocker bearings - a new shaft often works wonders!

[mmjosh]

we had the engine out of a car what i broke and sent it away to a morris minor person who rebuilt it for us nut he didnt check the followers but the engine has been in the car a few months now but i have decided to do something about the noise and we had peoples advice and they came and listened to it and they said cam followers.

[bmcecosse]

The 'morris minor person' wasn't much of an engine rebuilder if he didn't check the cams and followers! I wonder what else he didn't bother checking!!! ? Anyway - simple job now to pull them out and have a look-see. But as before - I doubt it!

[Pikey]

Take out the rocker shaft and/or the rockers and inspect them they are more likely to be worn than a cam follower, easily flattened with a stone though.

A cam follower is soaked with oil from the big end splash so is normally quite well lubricated, so I doubt its them giving trouble.

Steve

[mike.perry]

Take the tappet chest covers off and run the engine, mind the oil splashes. You should see the cam followers rotating. If they are not then they need changing.

[bmcecosse]

Not heard that one before Mike - ever! Yes - they are indeed intended to rotate in use - but not necessarily when at idle speed. It's only seconds to hook each one out with finger - and inspect the base. Any pitting or crazing - discard - but none of that will cause 'tapping' !!!

[mike.perry]

Well you've learnt something new today Roy
It works for me, you just have to avoid revving too hard or get covered in oil but then I expect that you are used to that + coal dust.

[bmcecosse]

No - I can't see that's a good test Mike - the only worthwhile test is to inspect the bases!
The coal dust etc on the overalls is so bad - I now have my very own (old) washing machine in the garage........ Next I'll be installing a shower - then a bed - then Mrs BMCs plan will be complete!

[MarkyB]

I'm sceptical about a cam follower tapping, however, if the noise is coming from the valve train it should be easy enough to narrow it down to the valve concerned by resting you finger on each rocker in turn (rocker cover off, engine running).
The one that is lifting as the tap occurs is the one to look at.

I'd suggest slackening off the adjuster and seeing what play there is in that rocker arm first.

Some clear plastic sheet over the engine while it is running will minimise oil splashes but let you see what you are doing.

If there is a bad follower isn't it likely to have damaged the cam lobe?