Lifters 101!

[jmbrodsky@domain.elided]

Rik,

        The first thing to check upon startup of an engine with new lifters OR 
pushrods OR cam OR rockers OR valves, etc. etc, is that the pushrods TURN while 
the engine is runing.  If they don't turn, it means that the lifter is 'stuck' 
in the hole, and will have poor lubrication, and will wear grooves like you see.
 With the valve covers off, you should let the engine idle, and turn the 
pushrods with your hand to see if they have a natural tendency to turn one 
direction over the other.  I fixed a bent pushrod in my '74 last week, and this 
is key!  Half of the time, they get bent from not turning.  Lube the bajeezus 
out of everything upon assembly (I use 30 wt, since that's what's in the squirt 
bottle) and lube the rocker shaft, pushrod tops, etc.  I hope this helps, and if
it sounds like a commandment, I never meant it to, I apologize in advance.


     -Joel Brodsky

         '76 IHC Scout II 345/tf727 RE8000, Cibie40s, custom 
                rear tire rack, 6 different color body panels.
                Not much sport, all utility.
         '75 IHC Travelall 150 4wd 392/tf727 Hummer brush guard, 
                3/4T rear springs, Hella Rallye 2000s, Con-Ferr 5x7,
                Class IV hitches front and rear, 3" Exhaust.
                1st Place, Rocky Mountain IH Rendezvous,
                3rd Place, Tulare IH Western Regionals.
         '74 IHC Travelall 150? 2wd 392/tf727 "The 'new' one"
                Factory AM/FM, Cruise, Tilt, AC, Captains Chairs,
                Rblt, Alt, carb, fuel pump, ps pump, water pump, dash,
                seats, rear door, starter, what could be left?

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Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 23:07:05 -0700
From: rikofwa@domain.elided (RIK D DESJARDIN)
Subject: Pushrods

    I have been struggling with my 345.  I milled the heads down to
increase compression. Put a new cam and lifters in, started it, ran it a
little, and  I got a lot of valve train noise.  I purchased a pushrod
length measuring tool assess what I had done to valve geometry, and ended
up ordering custum length pushrods.  
Today as I was replacing the lifters, with the second set this year,   I
found on some of the lifters I was taking out,  grooves on the bottom, as
wide as the cam lobes.  The cam lobe seems okay.  I want to put it
together. 
    Now knowing what I know about the lifters, that they must have been
the primary cause of the noise.  Should I put it back together to see how
it runs using the stock pushrods or the special order pushrods?

Rik DesJardin
RikOFWA@domain.elided
It's Coming------------http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Dunes/9937/

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