collapsed lifters?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh Pa
collapsed lifters?
ok so i have had like two different sets of lifters go bad on two of my engines.. i set them all up the exactly the same. i upgraded cams in both engines and bought new lifters for the new cams... i cleaned them off, soaked them in oil for a few hours and threw them in. well i went to zero lash and did a half a turn from there tightened the locks... well on one engine, half the lifters wouldn't stay pumped up and clattered real bad.. and on the vette two lifters blew out the top and 5 others wouldn't stay pumped up. what am i doing wrong? on another engine i set them up the exact same way and they work perfectly fine and stay pumped up like they should and this engine has the largest cam and strongest valve springs of all the engines???? one set was comp cams stock replacement lifters and i can't remember off hand what the vette had. i bought a set of sealed power for the vette cause it was the only brand readily available locally... i need to put them in but want to be sure i am doing things right first.. any suggestions would be great!!!!! thanks..
btw all are hydraulic roller lifters..
btw all are hydraulic roller lifters..
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh Pa
i am using true roller rockers on these engines.. so i can get to zero lash with my fingers and am only setting the lash at a half turn... i mean even if i were to go past zero lash i have heard of people setting valve lash up to 1 1/4th in from zero lash. i am not using comp "r"'s which i know are really picky and only need like a very very small amount of lash.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,261
Likes: 85
From: O'Fallon Missouri
When I installed my second cam. I had one of the lifters out of adjustment and colapsed a lifter and broke a push rod. When I installed the new lifters. I did the initial valve adjustment. Then spin the engine over with plugs out/intake off, until I had full oil pressure, and then readjusted the lifters just to make sure. After several months they appear to be in proper adjustment.
Good Luck.
-Mike
Good Luck.
-Mike
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
It is recommended not to soak them by several engine parts manufactures. I forget all the details of exactly why. If memory serves, it seems the non-compressible liquid can stack solid and cause breakage upon initial fire up.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 17
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
It is recommended not to soak them by several engine parts manufactures. I forget all the details of exactly why. If memory serves, it seems the non-compressible liquid can stack solid and cause breakage upon initial fire up.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
hmm - when i bought my comp-cams last year, there was a note in the box which said to soak them...
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
What method of lash adjustment did you use? What I have found that works for me is the Comp. Cams .030 method. By doing one at a time, spinning the motor by hand, and going right down the bank 1-3-5-7-8-6-4-2 so that I know for sure that each one was set right. By following their method you can be certain that you are on the base circle of the cam when adjusting the lash (starting at that point from zero to then pre-load the lifter). The lash should be alright with + or -.010 (roughly 1/4 turn) without lifter problems. I don't like the GM method, very easy to do wrong valve or forget sequence of what was done or not done. I am not sure why you say that CC pro mags or any roller rocker needs less or is any more 'picky'.
Last edited by mseven; Jan 2, 2006 at 09:25 AM.
CF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,203
Likes: 2,860
From: Charlotte N.C.
Going by memory you should use a push rod and push on each lifter to get the air out, comes out the little bleeder hole in the side of the lifter. You keep pushing untill there's no more bubbles. If you don't do this and you install and adjust them, as soon as the oil pressure pumps them up good they are WAY out of proper adjustment, should run like crap too...
Last edited by EvanD; Jan 2, 2006 at 04:39 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
There seems to be a little confusion about proper prepping new hydraulic roller lifters before installing them.
I'm aware that a few cam companies - ISKY and CompCams come to mind from memory - specifically recommend NOT to pump up the lifters with oil before installing them in the bores.
On the other hand, they do recommend that the roller bearings in the lifters be cleaned of the grease that is used during the assembly of the lifter at the factory. I recall ISKY stating that failure to do so will prevent proper oiling of the bearings at the roller and can result in roller bearing failure.
So based on all that, I've concluded that the new lifters should be inserted in clean solvent, the roller turned to dissolve and remove the grease, dried and lightly oiled to prevent dry start up BUT the lifter body should not be pumped up.
I had to order a custom set of off-set lifters for a friend's 434 when it was going together and the lifters came with a WARNING sheet in the box saying to remove the factory installed grease. They were ISKY's.
Jake
I'm aware that a few cam companies - ISKY and CompCams come to mind from memory - specifically recommend NOT to pump up the lifters with oil before installing them in the bores.
On the other hand, they do recommend that the roller bearings in the lifters be cleaned of the grease that is used during the assembly of the lifter at the factory. I recall ISKY stating that failure to do so will prevent proper oiling of the bearings at the roller and can result in roller bearing failure.
So based on all that, I've concluded that the new lifters should be inserted in clean solvent, the roller turned to dissolve and remove the grease, dried and lightly oiled to prevent dry start up BUT the lifter body should not be pumped up.
I had to order a custom set of off-set lifters for a friend's 434 when it was going together and the lifters came with a WARNING sheet in the box saying to remove the factory installed grease. They were ISKY's.
Jake