Re: Cylinder head noises

[Glenn Merrell <gmerrel@domain.elided>]

Hello Graham,
	If you are getting into the troubleshooting mode, a good length of 1/4"
hose placed in one ear, other end scanning each position of each valve
will locate the suspect noise area.  If you do it with the camshaft
cover off, be cautious of splashing oil droplets all over you, your
engine, and your garage (been there, done that).  A used doctor
stethoscope works very nicely for pinpointing such noises and can be
located new for about $15.00 to $20.00 at a local pharmacy.  It can also
be used to detect rumbling crank bearings, rattling rods, rattling
timing chains, and piston slap conditions, although it takes a bit of
practice.
	
	If you do locate a sticking tappet or noisy valve, check the lash gap
first.  If you do remove the camshaft, be sure to crank the engine to
the correct camshaft scribe mark before removing the camshaft.  After
removing the camshaft, first look to see if any pallets are higher or
lower than any other, potentially indicating a broken spring,
incorrectly set keepers, or bent valve.  Too low and the valve is not
returning to full home, too high, sticking tappet, keeper or pallet
trouble.
	If suspecting the tappet, it should rotate freely between your thumb
and index finger full 360 degrees of rotation (in a perfect world),
pulling out with a suction cup on a hand valve lapping tool, with no
noticeable rocking or sticking when pulling out. The pallet shim will
most likely be stuck to the bottom of the tappet, be careful not to jar
it out into the engine.  Check for burrs on the tappet hole, and scoring
on the tappet bucket.  The tappet will have the same marks as piston
slap wear, sort of teardrop shaped wear marks on opposite sides, showing
the tappet has not been rotating on its hole.   Also check the pallet to
see if it is sharp edged top and bottom, worn rounded on the edges, or
the chamfered style.  Carefully check the valve springs for anything
that may be caught up in the spring.  look in the spring hole for metal
shavings.  Place the pallet centered on the valve collar before oiling
and replacing the tappet.

In my humble opinion, yours for speculation.  Hope it helps.

Regards,
Glenn  Merrell
Triumph Stag Register USA VP

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