i really hate to ask a seemingly redundant question, but after doing a search on said subject, nothing seems to sway me one way or the other - i am replacing my lifters and just need to know if they have to be primed, and if priming or not affects setting the valve lash. i know how to do that, but last time i re-used my lifters, so wasn't much of a debate there. as i understand what i've been reading, i need to soak the new ones in oil and just set the valve lash... (this is not for a rebuilt engine, been running for a while)

 

yea, this is a debateable subject. some guys dont like soaking them in oil cause they claim the break-in fluid wont stick. i can tell you how i do it, thats all, and make your own decision. i cut a plastic gallon, milk container in half. fill it with GOOD oil about 1 inch above the lifters, standing upright. i dont believe just letting them sit in oil will get all the air out. so i use an old pushrod and a hammer to lightly tap on the lifter while its submerged in oil. youll see the bubbles come out. i leave them in the oil til im ready to install. when i install them, i wipe the oil off the bottom and coat them with break-in lube. set your lash correctly and your done. ive gone back to double check the lash, and never found one off/out of adjustment this way. JMO.

 

Should clean them out real good with a solvent to get rid of the thick packed greases in the bearings if rollers, then cover them in oil and install. I dont soak mine over night or anything like that.

Flat tappets id probably do the same way just cover them in oil real good after cleaning them thoroughly. Its worked well for me in the past with rollers. I never used flats

 

Being I'm borderline OCD, I find a small plastic tube, (last time from some kind of candy), with just a little bigger diameter than that of the lifter. Drop in the lifter, fill with solvent and then work the plunger a few times. Then pour out the solvent, (I use Gumout liquid), then repeat with motor oil of choice. Lather, rinse, repeat for all lifters. If it's a flat tappet, slather the assembly lube on the cam while installing it. I do the same to a roller cam, again because of my **** retentiveness, (is that a word?). Prime the engine several times, using good break in oil, (ie high zinc/molybdenum) and as a final act of caution, spin the the engine over, using the starter, a few times w/o the plugs installed. As an added precaution, you could use STP or Lucas break in supplement in lieu of the motor oil when doing my little procedure above. Both of these are high in Zinc/Moly and have the consistency of molasses, which will stick for quite some time before it's washed away by the motor oil.

 

roger all... clean 'em, oil 'em, install 'em... works for me... thanks for the replies...