[TR] Pushrod and tappet trouble on my TR3A

[Peter]

Aux Liste,

I got around the lifting tappet problem by making a hold-down tool out of a
12" piece of coat hanger wire. I put a 90 deg. bend 5/16" from one end of
the wire. I pulled up on the pushrod about 1/4 to 3/8". That's enough to
tell if the tappet is stuck to it. If it is, reach down alongside the
pushrod with the bent end, and press on the top edge of the tappet until it
drops off. I actually use it to hold each tappet when pulling the pushrods,
so the question doesn't come up.

Pete F
63 TR4

-----Original Message-----
From: triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net
[mailto:triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Randall
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2010 11:19 PM
To: 'Rick'; triumphs at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [TR] Pushrod and tappet trouble on my TR3A

>  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