did i just crush my lifters and hose my motor?

[artificialreef]

Hello folks, I am in the process of trying to quiet down a noisy valve. I finally found the "special tool" to collapse the lifter to check my rocker to pushrod clearance. I set the motor to tdc on the comp stroke and used the tool to collapse the lifter. I got no movement on the rocker and then horsed it a little more and got alot of movement on the rocker. I did this to the designated valves then rotated 360 degrees and did the rest of them. I am checking the gap and see that most of them are like a quarter of an inch at least. Questions.

1. Did i just horse these things too much and drive the pushrod right through the lifter. I didnt expect that much movement or gap?

I would say all but 2 have at least a quarter inch gap now and it only sounded like one noisy valve. The manual didnt say anything about pushing them down too hard. Just to make sure you collapsed the lifter.

2. If it did destroy my lifters, is my motor still ok? Do i now just have to pull the intake manny and replace the lifters and some pushrods? The compression on the motor was really good. Hope i didnt just mess it up.

Thank you for your assistance. A little worried at the moment.

 

[tinkerguy70]

Re: did i just crush my lifters and hose my motor?

If they are hydraulic lifters (and I'm sure they are), they should pump back up with engine oil pressure.
Sorry I don't know for certain, I bought one a while back as a project boat, but I've never really done anything to it yet.

 

[Don S]

Re: did i just crush my lifters and hose my motor?

You have hydraulic lifters, and no you didn't hurt anything. They will collapse under steady, even, firm, pressure using the tool.
You also need the special tool with the thickness measurements on it. First step is .110" (1/64" under 1/8") and the second is .210" (1/64" under a 1/4"). It's a go-no go gauge, which means the 110 must go, but the 210 must not go between the valve and rocker arm.

Now, even if the valve is adjusted perfectly static, it could still allow a valve to rattle. How? because the lifter is failing for whatever reason, and is not pumping up as it should when running.

Start the engine with the valve cover off and see which one is making the noise. Usually pushing on the rocker arm with it running will tell you which one is the problem. Then replace the lifter, or try rebuilding it. (See manual for instructions).

 

[artificialreef]

Re: did i just crush my lifters and hose my motor?

Now, since i have all the lifters collapsed. And according to dons instructions above, i need to start the engine to see which one is the culprit. Is it ok to start the motor with all these rockers loose as a jap on prom night? I imagine it will clatter alot until they build up oil pressure again and scare the heck out of me. It wont cause any damage will it? I checked the torque on all the rockers. Good at 20lbs.

Thanks again for your help on this one. I am almost there with 2 decent running 470's.

 

[Don S]

Re: did i just crush my lifters and hose my motor?

You do not loosen the rockers, you just collaps them to check the gap. They will pump up again, probably while you are cranking the engine to start it.

EDIT:
Was thinking about my answer and thought it best to explain things. If you collapsed the lifters and they stayed collapsed, then yes, you may have done something wrong.
There is a spring inside the lifter that should push the internal parts of the lifter up against the pushrod which will push the rocker arm up against the valve. But it takes oil pressure to pump the lifter back up, but that only takes seconds.

 

[tinkerguy70]

Re: did i just crush my lifters and hose my motor?

If it was running before you collapsed them, it should still light up after a few seconds of cranking it over.
I don't think you'll need to go to any special trouble to get them pumped back up. It may run rough, or the rockers may tick for a little bit until they are all fully pumped back up, but you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: did i just crush my lifters and hose my motor?

...pull the distributor and spin the dizzy with a drill motor to pump up the lifters?

Couldn't the same thing be accomplished by flipping the kill switch or doing some with a coil wire where the dissy is still turning building oil pressure so you can check things out yet the engine won't actually start?

Mark

 

[artificialreef]

Re: did i just crush my lifters and hose my motor?

Update on this thread. I have found that to me it is next to impossible to collapse these lifters in the motor. I bought the lifter collapsing tool noted in the manual and found i have bent every pushrod except the one i couldnt get to . I fabbed the feeler gauge called out in the manual and replaced every pushrod to within (rocker to valve stem) specs. I took each lifter out after removing the intake manny and dizzy and bled them out in a vise. It took about 5 to 10 minutes slowly aplying pressure. I can not imagine doing this with the merc tool. I think one would have to sit there with the tool applying pressure for 20 to 30 minutes since i did it with a vice for 5 per lifter.

Bottom line to this update. Was wondering if anyone on here actually collapses lifters in the motor, and how long do you sit there horseing on that bar?

Doesnt look i damaged anything, amazingly there is no type of guide whatsoever for these pushrods. I think i cured my ticking and am excited to turn it over in the am.

 

[artificialreef]

Re: did i just crush my lifters and hose my motor?

my assumption on the ticking was the only pushrod that i didnt bend was allready bent, because i ran the motor with the valve cover off and the #3 intake was not pumping oil to the rocker and was the noisy one. I dissassembled the lifter and it looked ok, but i replaced it anyway.