I too have had a loud click plus some general clatter for 25k miles and 10
years and not been able to eliminate it through correct valve adustment
using the Rule of Nine. However I have only just discovered that if I turn
the crankshaft a little past the Rule of Nine point when adjusting valves 6
and 8 the gap goes up (to 21 in the case of 8) and similar for 7 but
*before* the optimum point. Setting the *maximum* gap correctly, regardless
of the Rule of Nine, has resulted in an amazingly quiet engine. However I
am now concerned that too quiet may not be a good thing and would prefer to
hear the clatter and know that the gaps were at least big enough,
particularly as the UK has just lost leaded.
A badly ground crankshaft seems to be the concencus of the problem here,
although the engine is a Gold Seal and they can be better than the
originals! I don't think it is wear because the clearances have hardly
changed over the aforesaid 25k miles and 10 years.
PaulH.
----- Original Message -----
From: <Pointparty@aol.com>
To: <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2000 8:50 PM
Subject: clicking/ticking valve noise diagnosis
> Looking for advice, counsel or informed opinions:
>
> My 71B gt with 97K miles on original engine with rebuilt head at 70K. has
a
> valve nioise which we are certain is in the #3 counting from the front.
It
> runns fine, good oil pressure, nothing has changed. I have had two
trusted
> MG pros check and recheck valve adjustments and everything is proper.
>
> Thre are two distinct opinions as to what is the cause:
> one opinion is the rocker arm assembly needs to be replaced with a
refubished
> rocker arm assembly, or in a pinch the suspect rocker arm and bushing need
> replacement but the labor is almost as much as replacing the whole thing;
> the second opinion shared by two more experts is that the camshaft is worn
> and should be replaced. This opinion includes the advice to remove the
> rocker arm shaft assembly first and check for movement of the suspect
rocker
> arm.
>
> Generally it is said that this is not a cause for alarm or immediate
concern.
> Some people say they drive their MGs for years with the valve noise as
long
> as nothing else fails that demands going into the motor. Is that for real
or
> will I wear out the engine or have microscopic pieces of MG in my oil?
>
> I can buy a refurbished complete rocker arm assembly and have it installed
> for around $3 or $4 hundred bucks, but if that is not the cause I still
have
> to put a cam in and that means taking off the radiator, and all that stuff
in
> front of the cam access plate.
>
> Then the agony of going deeper and deeper into the black hole of the
engine,
> until I remove the block, and while I'm at it may as well rebuild the
clutch
> parts, rebuild the transmission, front suspension, spend thousands, have
> parts all over the house, and my wife throws me out. I've been there,
done
> that with a midget that I had to sell in order to get to sleep in the big
bed
> again.
>
> Advice please, drive as is or ?????
>
> thanks....Mel
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