[TR] Pushrod and tappet trouble on my TR3A

[Randall]

>  Could the tappets be hung up above the cam?

Unfortunately, yes.  The tappets normally ride in a bore in the block, but
if they are lifted above the bore (by, say, lifting on the pushrod) then
they will typically cock to one side and not go back into the bore.  

Did that myself, just a few months ago.  I eventually succeeded in coaxing
the lifter back into it's bore, but it wasn't easy.  My basic technique was
to lift up on the pushrod a bit (no more than 1" or so), and wiggle it
around to try to work the lifter back into it's bore.  I also had a small
light that I could stick down the hole to try to see what was happening
(actually a pickup tool similar to this one:
http://tinyurl.com/2clplds ).  Probably only took 20 minutes or so to coax
it back in, but it seemed longer.

The alternative, of course, is to remove the head.

Randall