Adjusting Hydraulic Lifters

[joe]

Hi Gang,

I have read the posts regarding lifter adjustment and there is just one point I was hoping to get some clarification on;

I know I need to remove the lifters and clean them out with brake cleaner, making sure that I can hear the check ball rattle when I shake it. I put the lifter back together and install in the tappet, making sure I am on the heel of the cam. Here is where my trail gets cold.

If the lifter is completely bled then it will easily collapse so I think I am supposed to adjust the pushrod down until the lifter is bottomed and there is slight drag on the pushrod. Then adjust the pushrod aduster up 3 or 4 turns (depend on threads per inch of the adjuster but should be around .01 inches). The idea is to get the pushrod centered in the expandable range of the lifter (when engine is cold of course).

If I have something backwards, can someone please correct me?

Thanks!

Joe

[kitabel]

No, you read the service manual.

[Hog54]

That sounds about right.Its been 15 years since I put mine in and I havent touched them since.

[RUBONE]

Joe,
When dry and clean, at their lowest point, remove all free play in the pushrod while not compressing the lifter. That puts it at zero lash at its free length. Then adjust DOWN 4 turns to compress it approximately 1/8th inch which puts it at its operating range. As the engine heats or cools the hydraulic unit can grow or shrink with it while maintaining the proper ability to lift the valve. The oil within it makes it function in a mostly solid state while allowing expansion and cushioning.
Robbie

[joe]

Thanks for the responses guys. I do indeed have the manual, on page 76 it talks about adjusting the lifters but it did not seem to be getting things as quiet as I thought they should be...I was referencing Cotten's post that talked about a safer way to adjust lifters (clean and dry). In any event I found my problem. It was the one new lifter I used in this build, I got it off ebay. Obviously it was junk and probably came apart immediately.

Joe

lifter001.jpg

[Cotten]

Joe!

Clean and dry is from the Service Manual.

I've never heard of the shake and listen for the ball thing.
(Except for overhead rocker oilers.)

And I have never seen a cup and ball come out before!

....Cotten

[joe]

Cotten! If I discovered the loose cup when I took your suggestion to take a can of carb cleaner with the long tube and shoot it up from the bottom to clean all the oil out. Otherwise I never would have found the root cause behind the noisy top end

Joe