Pits on side of tappet can be looked upon as small pockets for the oil to
collect in and provide some reserve of lubrication between the lifter and
the block. It sounds like you took off any high spots with the emery. By
all means use it provided the face which contacts the cam is flaw free. It
is the cam face that takes all of the punishment.
Larry (Spitman)
----------
> From: William West <will_thane@email.msn.com>
> To: Triumph List <triumphs@autox.team.net>
> Subject: Name that tune (rusty tappet revisited)
> Date: Tuesday, February 10, 1998 9:20 PM
>
> A while ago, I wrote to the list about a kent cam tappet that had rusted
> (along the vertical, up and down, exterior--not the point of contact with
> the cam),in storage. Well, I took the rust off with naval jelly and
emery
> cloth and I was left with a pitted but otherwise decent enough lifter
that
> still moves smoothly in the bore.
>
> I took the tappet down to my local brit-guru, old jag restoration, new
jag
> repair shop and asked the owner/mechanic about the tappet. He told me
that
> if it were his car, he would use it, but if he were building an engine
for a
> customer, he would replace it. He was otherwise noncommital.
>
> My question to the list: how should I translate this advice????? Was he
> telling me that the lifter is just fine and shouldn't pose a problem but
if
> it were a customer's car, he would want to be absolutely certain, or was
he
> saying that since he does this stuff for a living, replacing the lifter,
> should it fail, is an easy job so go for it. (?)
>
> Yeah, strange question, I know, but I'm curious to see how others would
> respond to this advice... My only hesitation is that ordering a new set
of
> tappets from Kent Cams means another month of mail delays, another 37
pounds
> sterling (what's that convert to these days???), and I really, really,
> really want this engine in the car by the 20th of this month.
>
> Thanks guys for your patience with this greenbean!
> Will
>
>
>
>
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