Help needed: How to backwash a lifter?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,900
Likes: 2
From: Green Cove Springs FL
Help needed: How to backwash a lifter?
I called Lunati to order a replacement lifter since I think it has gone bad. I told him I went with thicker oil and it started to tap, so he thinks that some debris might be caught up in it.
He said to backwash the lifter and if that doesn't work then order a replacement. From what I can remember, here is what he told me:
- Take off the valve cover
- Find the valve that's knocking
- Take a rubber mallet and gently tap it on the rod where the lifter is at
- Put everything back on and start up the car to test it.
- Repeat a couple more times to make sure, and if that doesn't work then it's a bad lifter.
Can someone elaborate on this for me? Where does the roller rocker come into play here?
Thanks
He said to backwash the lifter and if that doesn't work then order a replacement. From what I can remember, here is what he told me:
- Take off the valve cover
- Find the valve that's knocking
- Take a rubber mallet and gently tap it on the rod where the lifter is at
- Put everything back on and start up the car to test it.
- Repeat a couple more times to make sure, and if that doesn't work then it's a bad lifter.
Can someone elaborate on this for me? Where does the roller rocker come into play here?
Thanks
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,900
Likes: 2
From: Green Cove Springs FL
Re: Help needed: How to backwash a lifter? (MotorHead)
I did that, but it didn't help. It got to the point where I couldn't turn it anymore, so I stopped before I broke something.
[Modified by FroDaddy, 12:52 PM 5/30/2002]
[Modified by FroDaddy, 12:52 PM 5/30/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 29,077
Likes: 0
From: Deep East Texas
Re: Help needed: How to backwash a lifter? (FroDaddy)
Lifters may be better now than they used to be, but here's what I used to do. I had a 55 Pontiac with 100,000 miles on it. The lifters clattered. I couldn't get them adjusted. It was embarressing on dates. On Friday night I would pull the manifold and valley cover, remove the lifters and push rods. I put the lifters in mineral oil and kind of poked at the ports with a tooth pick to help get the air out. Then I'd let them soak all night. Saturday, I'd be sure the push rods were clear and then re-assemble everything. That was good for about 36 to 48 hours without clattering. :D (Bubba, huh? Well it was all I could afford at the time.) Sounds to me like what they're telling you is that they think the "port" is plugged and you can clear it by tapping on the push rod. I think I'd consider taking out and seeing if I could clear it. If you can't then replace it. That's just my $0.02. Let us know what you do and how it works. Somebody else may have the same problem.
Edit: Not sure about the rockers involvement, unless he means for you tap the rocker, right over the push rods.
[Modified by Mack76, 2:09 PM 5/30/2002]
Edit: Not sure about the rockers involvement, unless he means for you tap the rocker, right over the push rods.
[Modified by Mack76, 2:09 PM 5/30/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,581
Likes: 14
From: Tolar Texas
Re: Help needed: How to backwash a lifter? (FroDaddy)
A few years back I rebuilt the engine in a Buick. After initial cam break in, one of the lifters was noisy. One of my buds showed me a trick that cured it. Valve cover off, engine running, he placed the handle end of a hammer on the push rod end of the rocker arm and pressed down with as much of his weight as possible. After a minute or so, the lifter got quiet and stayed quiet from then on.
I suppose that the idea is that if there is a slight burr inside of the lifter from the machining process, applying force to it helps free up the plunger so that it can "pump up".
This probably won't work every time but at this point, what could it hurt?
Good luck.
I suppose that the idea is that if there is a slight burr inside of the lifter from the machining process, applying force to it helps free up the plunger so that it can "pump up".
This probably won't work every time but at this point, what could it hurt?
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,900
Likes: 2
From: Green Cove Springs FL
Re: Help needed: How to backwash a lifter? (Fevre)
I knew I could count on you guys! I was hoping to try out your suggestions today, but I'm tied up in other stuff. I will make sure to follow up soon though!
:cheers:
:cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,407
Likes: 2
From: Carmichael CA
Re: Help needed: How to backwash a lifter? (FroDaddy)
I always take them apart. The top is just a pressed on cap that can be popped off...be carefull that you aim it into a rag or it may go flying! I then soak everything in parts cleaner, clean with a rag if there's still dirt, rinse with fresh parts/carb cleaner then rinse with water and allow to air dry in the sun...then I soak the parts in oil, and make them no more than 1/2 full of oil (any more and the darn internal parts wont' go in). While you have them out you should use a straight edge on the bottom of the lifter (where it rides on the cam) to see if it's concave (see light under the straight edge at the middle of the lifter end). If the lifter is concave then replace it.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,313
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From: The cure for the blues is eight cylinders roaring
Re: Help needed: How to backwash a lifter? (Cookwithvette)
Can you remove a lifter without removing the intake manifold?
(I'm going through what I believe to be a similar situation)
(I'm going through what I believe to be a similar situation)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,313
Likes: 0
From: The cure for the blues is eight cylinders roaring
Re: Help needed: How to backwash a lifter? (Mack76)
Lifters may be better now than they used to be, but here's what I used to do. I had a 55 Pontiac with 100,000 miles on it. The lifters clattered. I couldn't get them adjusted. It was embarressing on dates. On Friday night I would pull the manifold and valley cover, remove the lifters and push rods. I put the lifters in mineral oil and kind of poked at the ports with a tooth pick to help get the air out. Then I'd let them soak all night. Saturday, I'd be sure the push rods were clear and then re-assemble everything. That was good for about 36 to 48 hours without clattering. :D (Bubba, huh? Well it was all I could afford at the time.)
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,569
Likes: 1
From: Hawaii
Re: Help needed: How to backwash a lifter? (Cookwithvette)
Can you remove a lifter without removing the intake manifold?
(I'm going through what I believe to be a similar situation)
(I'm going through what I believe to be a similar situation)
Yes depending on your heads. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=201448
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,245
Likes: 25
From: Blue Ridge Georgia
Re: Help needed: How to backwash a lifter? (Mack76)
I would not tap on it. I have in the past taken the wood handle of a small hammer and pressed down on the rocker at the push rod end to force the spring in the lifter to move.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,900
Likes: 2
From: Green Cove Springs FL
Re: Help needed: How to backwash a lifter? (Paul 75 L82)
I went ahead and tried both methods. I'm not really sure what's going on since all of the lifters got oiled up really well. I'm still hearing the tapping, but it seems to go away after the engine is on for a while (15+ min).
I'm going to take it to my mechanic soon and have him look around. Watch it end up being an exhaust leak.. :rolleyes:
Thanks for the help everyone!
I'm going to take it to my mechanic soon and have him look around. Watch it end up being an exhaust leak.. :rolleyes:
Thanks for the help everyone!