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I'm a grown up member now !
Top end rattle
Hi all. This is a question my brother has asked me. He has a zephyr MK3 engine. He says it has a top end rattle like lose tappets. It gets worse as the engine gets hotter so not tappets. He has also reduced tappet clearance with no change. I do not know this engine or heard it running. Hoping someone here knows what I’m talking about and recognise the symptoms. I’m thinking oil pump or cam chain but he says the noise is top end. Hopping it’s not small ends. Any ideas ?
Thanks
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Off the Xmas card list
Notorious for it as the rocker arms get undercut with age and you can't get a correct feeer gap in there. I use an oil stone to flatten the tips and reset to correct clearances.
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Official RnS Addict
yep, they get noisier as the oil gets thinner and yep it's tappets. as kev says the rocker arms wear so you can't get a feeler gauge in there. i've done them by feel but if you're not confident then as kev says remove them and file/sand them flat so you can set the clearances right.
neil.
need a job done on your project? i may be able to help.
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I'm a grown up member now !
Thanks to both of you. Exelent news it’s nothing serious.
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Official RnS Addict
Perhaps use a dial gauge indicator with magnetic base (instead of feeler gauges)?
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Official RnS Addict
As above is how I have done it before on worn tappets.
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Official RnS Addict
i've done them with the engine running before, by ear. that's fun, especially with locknut and screw types.
neil.
need a job done on your project? i may be able to help.
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Neil, that’s the way my old MOT bloke did mine on my last mini, I took it in for its test knowing I still had to set them and when I went round the back to pick it up he had the bonnet off, engine running and was happily going back and forth doing it it for me. He wouldn’t take the drink offered either as he said he enjoyed doing it, because it brought back memories of his days as a works mini rally mechanic.
Chaley
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Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
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My dad used to adjust them by ear, then provided the pushrods span, job done.
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