ticking noise

[ronnie]

hi all , ive just done my valve timing which was badly out with great improvement . However , since then i get this ticking noise from the top end which sounds like a bone dry tappet .It comes and goes and not there all the time . When doing the valve timing i had the rocker nuts ( cylinder head nuts ) slackened to take the pressure of the camshaft and then simply torque to 40 psi .Is it possible the oil feed to the rockers has been blocked when replaceing the rockers ??

[bmcecosse]

Oh dear - you should very definitely NOT have loosened the cylinder head or rocker nuts - you may well have the beginnings of a head gasket failure... Cylinder head nuts can go to 44 ft lbf, but the smaller rocker pedestal nuts should only go to 25 ft lbf. You should just have loosened the rocker adjustments and popped the push rods out to the side when you were moving the cam... The oil feed could not be blocked by your actions. Can only suggest tightening the head nuts and carefully re-setting the valve gaps again - 12 thou inlets and 15 thou exhausts. And get a spare head gasket in stock!

[ronnie]

sorry it was 44 ib torque i put on the head nuts , the ticking noise would appear to be coming from around the head area but the wee car is pulling like a train water level is fine and as i say it can sound like a dry tappet one minute then dissappears ?? but as you say might well order a head gasket just in case , an hours work the haynes manual says 12 thou for the both valves

[ronnie]

just checking this noise again , it seems to be a light rattle more so noticeable when you give it a quick rev and as the engine is de-reving you here a light rattle from what i think is mid-engine area , maybe camshaft ?? any ideas taking into consideration this is an engine that before i corrected the valve timing there was'nt even a tappet noise from it , what could i have done wrong ?? ( probably opening my tool box ) - retorqued the head all good

[katy]

Did you reset the valve gaps after loosening/tightening the top end nuts?

[ronnie]

yea set tappets all to 12 thou

[bmcecosse]

Better with 15 thou exhausts....

[mike.perry]

To clarify - you tightened the head bolts then adjusted the tappets. I would suggest that you slip the feeler gauge on top of each valve stem to double check the gaps.
If you run the engine briefly with the rocker box off there should be plenty of oil splashing about.

[ronnie]

yea done all that mike , theres plenty of oil about . When the engine was ticking over i briefly slippped a 6 thou feeler gauge between the rocker and tappet but no real difererence . The noise comes more when you de- throttle , a light rattle , let it progress or strip it , what would you suggest ???

[bmcecosse]

Get the spare head gasket in stock NOW.....