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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Valve Clearance

Just gone through my engine valve clearance set to 0.010" however still think it sounds a bit tight what do you guys think? Here is the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H70eUXwafys&feature=youtu.be
C Carter

Hey up, it asked for user and password to look at it
Dave Squire (1500)

oops should be ok now try this link http://youtu.be/H70eUXwafys
C Carter

Does sound like there is a definite tick tick tick. But I would be wary of tightening down the valves below specification just to get a quiet engine. You will regret it when your valves burn through!

Yo maybe have one loose tappet though. Remove the cover, start it up and with the engine running slip a feeler gauge under each tappet in turn. If one is loose this will show up immediately as the ticking will stop. Be prepared for the oil splashing about!
Guy W

As trevor says...noise valves are happy valves

Im surprised that .010" clearance can sound that noisey....are you sure the rule of nine added up correctly

Prop

Prop and the Blackhole Midget

"however still think it sounds a bit tight what do you guys think?".

You mean loose I take it. Agree, there's a ticking there, but it sounds "tinny" metallic to me, rather than tappety.

Run the engine. Get a long screwdriver.

Put the handle on your ear, and the blade at various places on the engine. It'll make it much easier to determine the most likely location of the "tick", be it which loose tappet, or anything else.

If you have a stethascope, even better.
Lawrence Slater

Any chance the valve cover is sitting ..."OFF"' and the tappets assembly is brushing the inside of the cover

Maybe a bent pushrod as another thought

Was it as lawerance said "tinney" before you adjusted the tappets??

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

I dont recall how it sounded before as it has been over a year since it has been running. I have changed the head gasket since. Ticking noise is definitely coming from the rockers I have listened around the block even under when its running.

I did the rule of nine am convinced I have done it correctly. I will re-do them all tonight and run it again.

All push rods are straight nothing catching there. I will run it with the rocker cover off as it might help determine what is causing the noise.
C Carter

Have you checked for wear on the rocker faces?
If you're using wide feeler gauges, and the rockers are worn (indented), you will be getting false readings. For true readings you need narrow gauges that are thinner than the indentation.
Or, reface the rocker faces, but that runs the risk of removing the hardened coating. Not a problem if you only do low mileages.
Cheers John
HALL JOHN

The ticking is low enough frequency to be just one tappet. Using a feeler gauge whilst it is running will tell you which one. There is probably no need to adjust them all.

Or it could be a loose bob weight in the dizzy.
Guy W

Also how good are the rocker bushes and the rocker shaft as play there will cause noise that no amount of gap adjustment will cure. I don't know the Triumph rockers but have refaced and re-hardened a few pressed steel A series sets and along with re-bushing and a new shaft things can be quiet and long lived, at least with a hardened rocker shaft.
David Billington

This thread was discussed on 14/06/2013

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