[Healeys] Denis Welch Tappets Again

[Michael Oritt]

At the risk of awakening Godzilla from his dormancy I'll go ahead and say
the accursed letters:  *ZDDP*!

Best--Michael Oritt

On Wed, May 24, 2023 at 10:34 AM Michael Salter <michaelsalter at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Speaking as someone who has over the years had 2 bouts of tappet failure
> in 100 engines I would suggest that you are wise to be cautious.
> I can't advise on the tappets that you have fitted but can say the I am
> now using sets from A H Spares which are proving to be very satisfactory
> and are different from those I have had problems with.
> I have, in B.#174, a magnetic oil drain plug and have found that to be a
> very good indicator of impending tappet failure. On the last 2 oil changes
> there was absolutely no metal on the plug.
> My procedure initial start procedure was to firstly remove the inner valve
> springs as I have found that they and the additional pressure that they
> produce are just not required as my engine exhibits absolutely no sign of
> valve bounce right up to the red line.
> I use Lucas 20/50 break in oil for the 1st 500 miles.
> On first start I held the engine around 1500 RPM for about 20 minutes. (I
> have difficulty believing that this is necessary but that's what the
> experts recommend so you have to be sure that the cooling system is in good
> shape).
> I change to VR1 non synthetic 20/50 after 500 odd miles and then change
> the oil every 3000 miles.
> The engine in B#174 now runs with absolutely NO tappet clatter which is
> pretty unusual for a 100.
> I recently checked the valve clearances and they were unchanged after 2500
> miles, another good indicator that the cam and tappets are holding up well.
> I'm sure others have had different experiences but I  would recommend that
> you make every effort to avoid a cam/tappet failure because rectification
> requires a complete engine strip down.
> Good luck.
>
> M
>  (Still running perfectly with outer springs only)
>
> On Wed., May 24, 2023, 8:46 a.m. Michael MacLean, <
> springer.mike51 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> As I get closer to starting my 100 engine I have yet to replace the
>> modified Denis Welch tappets like a list member suggested I do.  I got
>> nervous, so I ordered a set of NOS tappets from Ahead4Healeys to swap with
>> the installed Welch tappets recently.  Now, searching the archives, I  find
>> someone had problems with NOS lifters after 6000 miles. Ruined a cam and
>> the lifters.  So, what am I supposed to do now?  Should I just buy
>> aftermarket tappets?  Are the aftermarket tappets hardened correctly?  Why
>> wouldn't the NOS tappets be hardened right?  I don't want to replace the
>> cam after I get this thing running.
>> Mike MacLean
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