Lash adjuster/cam follower question

[dieselboy28]

Ive got a question regarding lash adjusters and cam followers on a stock rotating assymbly 06 3v. It developed a rather loud tick coming from the passenger side seemingly out of no where about a week ago that I thought was an exhaust leak but the more I look into it, im thinking otherwise now. The car had sat for about a week with just moving it in and out of the driveway a few times with any real warm up or idle time, granted its been 80+ degrees around here for a few weeks. I drove it to work last friday and at lunch time noticed the ticking. I got freaked out and pulled the cam cover that night and didnt notice any thing wrong. Cam lobes all looked fine and the followers were all tight except the rear cyliner, they had a very small amount of play in them. At the time that seemed perfectly normal to me based on my past experience with pushrod motors when the piston would be at top dead center and all the valves are closed.

I had a couple people listen to the noise and some think its exhaust and some think valvetrain. One guy made a very good point though that it could be heard when the engine would be decelerating where most exhaust leaks would go quiet. From a little bit of reading today it has me more and more curious about the lash adjusters and cam followers and how they work in these motors. Should there be any play in the followers when the valves are all seated and the cam isnt exerting any "pressure" downward on them?

Now that I think about it I should have cranked the motor and looked for any differences but I was pressed for time. And now the car is sitting in a body shop getting the front end repainted and the back end fixed.

Thanks
Aaron

 

[Corpo]

Phasers?

 

[tmcolegr]

http://s197forum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=10991&postcount=43

 

[crownaviation]

http://s197forum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=10991&postcount=43

 

[dieselboy28]

Lovely, so I gather there should be zero play in them. It wouldn't be my first choice but how long can it be driven like this? Ideally I would like to fix it right away but money is tight at the moment. How difficult are they to replace? I assume the cams have to come out?

 

[CraigNnem]

Depends on which way you wanna do it.

1. Use spring compressor tool.

2. Take the cam out .

Number 1 is easier to do but cost more if you don't already have the spring compressor tool.

 

[TheKurgan]

There can be some play in some of them depending on where the lobe is. Mine always have and still did even after installing new lash adjusters. It didn't fix my ticking noise. Nothing seems to have fixed it. I started ignoring it 25,000 miles ago.

 

[BruceH]

Should there be any play in the followers when the valves are all seated and the cam isnt exerting any "pressure" downward on them?

Now that I think about it I should have cranked the motor and looked for any differences but I was pressed for time. And now the car is sitting in a body shop getting the front end repainted and the back end fixed.

Thanks
Aaron

I'd think there would be some if the lash adjuster was collapsed due to the motor being off. My car had some play with the stock cams when the cam lobes weren't pressing on the followers. This was noticed during a spring and cam swap. It doesn't have any play with the 127400 cams that are in now.

New followers and lifters for the entire motor were a little over $300 new the last time I checked. Removing the cam is the easiest way to change them all out.