[Healeys] tappets - the pits :-(

[Chris Dimmock]

I just reread your email John

You mean valve rocker faces. The valve rocker end that rides on the  
valve top?
If so, sorry.
It looks like I grabbed the wrong end of the valve train. In that  
case, the only relevant bit is
"Steel quality today, and hardening techiques, are far better &  
cheaper than they were 50 years ago"
So I'd buy new ones. Don't look at me though. Mine are alloy arms,  
roller tipped, in steel posts, and run hardened lash caps on the  
valves. Total lift with cam and offset rockers (1.65) give over .500  
lift at the valves.
My advice? Steel quality today, and hardening techiques, are far  
better & cheaper than they were 50 years ago
Best
Chris


Sent from my iPhone

On 26/10/2011, at 10:13 PM, Chris Dimmock <austin.healey at gmail.com>  
wrote:

> Hey John,
> The area between the tappet and camshaft, and the oil pump drive  
> spindle gear and the driving gear on a Healey cam, are the least  
> lubricated, and therefore highest wearing, areas of a C Series  
> engine - easpecially in a car that is revved. Like an Austin Healey.  
> The wear doesn't show as quickly on a Wolsley 6/110 - or a car where  
> 4,000 rpm is the exception, not the norm.
> They are also the least lubricated areas on a BMC A series engine.  
> And a BMC B series engine. When they are revved. Like a Spridget or  
> an MGB.
> I'd call that a fundamental design fault.
> That's another discussion.....
> But today, I'd look at your oil, and run in procedure.
> The design for getting lubrication to these major components is  
> practically non existant. It's either "drip and hope" or "splash and  
> hope"
> At 1,000 miles, the wear you are describing is a lubrication issue.  
> Not enough lube of the correct type at startup most likely.
> That's my answer. The cause was Insufficent lubrication, of the  
> correct type, following a corrct process, at initial startup. 2nd  
> best guess? Incorrect hardening 10 years ago.
> These days, I'd never reface a cam follower. Steel quality today,  
> and hardening techiques, are far better & cheaper than they were 50  
> years ago. New followers, hardened with current processes.
> I use Dennis Welch followers. No financial interest. These days,  
> Jeremy Welch won't sell you a billet cam without the cam followers  
> and appropriate lube. Dennis told me it dramatically reduced  
> warranty cost.
> Me? I'd replace them, and get some serious reassemly lube.
> Best
> Chris
> www.myaustinhealey.com
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On 26/10/2011, at 4:26 PM, john spaur <jmsdarch at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>> Are tappet pits okay? This is really embarrassing!
>>
>> I just sent my rocker arm and tappets to a well known re-builder.  
>> Several tappets had what I thought was extensive pitting. This  
>> occurred after 1000 miles or so since resurfacing them. However,  
>> the engine was not run since 2003 due to other issues. BTW, there  
>> was no rust on them, just a well coated oil surface after eight  
>> years of benign neglect!
>>
>> The re-builder told me that the pitting was minor and typical;  
>> meaning that it might reoccur after another resurfacing.
>>
>> What causes tappet pitting? The cam looks fine. Could it be that  
>> the tappets, are not rotating in their bores?
>>
>> I want to solve this problem!
>>
>> Help!!
>>
>> John Spaur
>> '62 BT7
>> ______________________________