question for the collective - Hydraulic lifters

[PhilKent]

I'm sure there's loads of posts and advice, but I struggle to search topics effectively on this forum...

My cam box is off at the moment as I'm replacing the gasket and sorting a stripped thread for the fuel rail. My question is:

Hydraulic lifters - do I soak in fuel and work the plungers to 'clean' them and then soak in oil to, again working the plungers to 'fill' them? Reason being, while not particularly noisy, I do notice a slight noise at times. And when looking at them, a couple are quite easy to depress, others pretty solid. I did replace one many moons ago, and notice that one is one of the easier ones to depress. They're all marked 'INA' but one has slightly different markings so obviously the one I replaced...

Cheers all,
Phil.

 

[bmnelsc]

I've seen mechanics (think old guys who can fix anything) soak lifters in solvent for as long as it takes - often overnight - to dissolve the sludge and restore free operation. I have seen them disassembled for cleaning (not Porsche ones - American V8s) but only once - not sure if the labor was more than the cost of replacements and probably depends on how they come apart. And yes - prior to installation you want to fill them up by pumping the plungers while immersed in oil so the valves operate close to normal during startup.

 

[PhilKent]

Bruce, thanks for the reply. Helpful.
I ended up seeking advice from Jon Mitchell and he was a superstar with advice. I'm now in the position of seeking some good used lifters if anyone knows of a source please. I think I need two, but will take several and use the best if available...

 

[Dan944t]

hi Phil,
so any info on refurbishing one ?

 

[PhilKent]

Well I'm not planning on taking them apart, so not refurbishing, but just cleaning and checking operation prior to re-use or replacement.

 

[Dan944t]

fair enough mate.

ive currently got my head off and have one i think that is not stiff so i will attempt a refurb on it and maybe do a resorection on this thread and show people what to do when i figure mine out .

Daniel

 

[PhilKent]

Advice I got for cleaning and testing was to soak in diesel, compress and drain as much as possible, blow air into oil port and check if it 'inflates' and goes hard, if so put in 'okay' pile, if it stays relatively soft then put in dodgy pile. To refill compress and submerge in oil then release and leave to soak.
I tested mine as above and recon I have two dodgy ones including the replaced unit from less than 10k miles, so not convinced by quality of new replacements now...
If I get replacements I may have a go at dismantling one, but only if I have enough to sacrifice one or two...

 

[Dan944t]

Advice I got for cleaning and testing was to soak in diesel, compress and drain as much as possible, blow air into oil port and check if it 'inflates' and goes hard, if so put in 'okay' pile, if it stays relatively soft then put in dodgy pile. To refill compress and submerge in oil then release and leave to soak.
I tested mine as above and recon I have two dodgy ones including the replaced unit from less than 10k miles, so not convinced by quality of new replacements now...
If I get replacements I may have a go at dismantling one, but only if I have enough to sacrifice one or two...

thanks for this info.
i would like to take mine apart and see if it’s an oring in there perished stoping it from staying pumped with oil or just junk? will do this once i sort my head out and report once i look inside them and figure out a solution.

Daniel

 

[Waylander]

these are the numbers i have for the lifters
050.109.309.h

VW Audi
034109309AD
050109309J

INA 420001010 possibly 16V only check size, as i was looking for 968 at the time, and I need 16
https://webcat.schaeffler.com/web/schaeffler/en_GB/PKW/92/208/2988/204/420%200010%2010_1216/applicationSearch.xhtml?result=1597087852567&csc=1

INA 420002210 check size think this is for the 8V
https://webcat.schaeffler.com/web/schaeffler/en_GB/204/420%200022%2010_1216/keywords.xhtml?result=1597088049289

bit cheaper than Porsche
https://www.justkampers.com/034-109-309-ad-hydraulic-cam-follower-vw-t4-2800cc-1996-2003.html

 

[PhilKent]

Hi Waylander,
I don't recognise any of those numbers and I think they are all for the 16 valvers. The porsche PN for the 8 valver is: 928 105 311 08
and a link to the valve (not available though): https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/oem/92810531108
They are 38mm diameter and 32mm high.

 

[Waylander]

After having a bit of read round, there references to a Ford lifter that has the right dimensions, who ever it was suggested that they can be purchased from Burton Power in Ilford Essex

38x32 mm is not an uncommon size, I will do some research today

 

[PhilKent]

Searched Burton Power and then spoke to them direct. Nothing doing it appears unless we can get a PN for an equivalent part. They can't search by
size!

 

[PhilKent]

So, finally finished the re-install and ran-up the engine. v.noisy for a few second then all went quiet and normal, so fingers crossed all my tappets are okay.
I did an autopsy on one of the second hand ones I bought as it looked a bit heat damaged, but I suspect would have been fine.
My advise would be; don't bother trying to dismantle to refurb. There are no serviceable parts like rubber seals or anything. You will not get the piston out by grinding away the four punch marks on the tappet. It's a very slim but full shoulder around the piston. The main culprit for poor operation will be crud in the inner spring chamber, but if you 'excersize' the tappet as described below and clean them up this will likely free-up. MAX compression should yield 2.54mm travel. The only potential failure would be wear and hence low oil pressure - unlikely, or broken spring - possibility - should be able to tell by comparing compression load required on all tappets.

 

[Eldavo]

I hope that you were more careful with the angle grinder this time. []

 

[PhilKent]

The mighty dremel was the tool of choice for this little job and all fingers still where they should be []