I was hearin some noise so i took off a valve cover and started checkin valve lash, #1 intake valve was closed but I could press down on the lifter, so i would assume that its bad where I could not do that to any of the other lifters, by the way the engine was hot when I checked. I called comp and they gladly sent me a new lifter free of charge ( matter of fact they sent me two on accident ) so now i crack open the intake and all, now the lifter wont press down but the engine is cold. Makes sence I guess... the oil inside is thicker right... so if i heat it up with a torch will I be able to compress the plunger by hand?... Should I be able to on a good lifter? Basically how do i tell if it is bad?

 

Did you try running the engine after you adjusted the valve lash? There would be a distinct ticking noise both before and after valve lash adjustment.

 

did not adjust any valve lash... they were all fine.

and yes i ran it till i got the lifters.

 

But did you rn the engine afterwards? If so, was it still making noise?

Generally, in a collapsed lifter, the plunger mechanism takes a vacation and does not apply pressure properly to take up the lash. From what you describe, it sounds as it the plunger is at the top where is should be. Keep in mind, when the valve is fully closed and the lifter is on the heel or near the heel of the cam, there is the least amount of pressure on the lifter/pushrod.

Define this 'noise' you were hearing in a bit more detail.

 

it did not seem to be a collasped lifter, just one that does not have the internal spring pressure behind it like it should, i dont think I should be able to push one down by hand when it is hot?? right...

the noise.... a ticking sound when driveing slow just above idle.

 

How did you come to the conclusion that the valve lash was 'fine?' Try setting the lash anyway. It doesnt hurt to start the engine, back the lash off until it ticks, and then tighten it down. Whats the worst it can do? Make you spend 15 minutes of your day? Whats the best it can do? Eliminate the ticking?

 

not if that lifter is bad... hence the original question, should you be able to press down a lifter by hand when it is hot?

 

That was in your original post. So that is what i am trying to help solve.

Whether or not the engine is hot doesnt have as much to do with the lifters ability to be comrpessed as the fact that is there oil in the lifter or not. If the engine was off, some of the oil may have bled out allowing the lifter to be compressed. perhaps moreso than the others.

That is also why i suggested setting the valve lash with the engine running. That ensures that there is oil in it. You would hear a definite tick if the lifter has been collapsed. Even after lash was set, or attempted to be set.

 

in order to do that.. i have to put the intake back on, and if i find a bad one i gotta take it back off... Grrr, COMP seemed to think my logic of just that single lifter not holdin pressure seemed right... well back to wrenchin!

 

How young is the cam/lifter combo? As in, how many miles are on it? If Comp sent you new lifters, and you have the intake off, (assuming the cam/lifter combo is fairly young still and no definite wear pattern has occured) I dont see how replacing 1 lifter would HURT anything. Granted you may have to lube everything up real good and go through a cam break in for just that one lifter....i dont know, ive never replaced just one lifter before.

 

I've set my valves with the engine NOT running many times and having the intake off makes it even that much easier. Just watch the lifter seat leave retainer in the lifter, when it just starts moving, go 1/2 turn further.

I also set them with the intake on. I can feel when the pushrod starts pushing on the lifter plunger and go 1/2 turn from there. I can wiggle my rockers and tell when I'm just about to move the plunger in the lifter. They are always correct but it may take practice for some people to do it this way.

Now, let me say this. If you're cranking the engine over, or turning it over however, you may pump the oil out of some lifters and maybe not others. Being able to push down on the lifter plunger after turning the engine over by hand doesn't mean there's a problem with the lifter. It just means the oil has been pumped out of it. It doesn't seem to follow any pattern it's just that if it stops with full spring pressure on it, it will bleed down.
Then, when you move it to adjust it, you will be able to push it down with your hand.

HTH

 

Have never had a problem setting valve lash, always do it with the intake off.

I just buttoned it up, took her for a drive... I did swap the lifter that i originally thought it was, im glad to say no more ticking. That was starting to drive me nutz!