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MG MGB Technical - Cam Followers

I am removing the cam followers and have taken out 1 and 3 but 2 and 4 will not come out. They come up so far but then seem to be fouling something and won't rise any further. Any ideas?
Rod Merrall

I had a similar situation with one of my followers, as I was stripping the entire engine I was able to remove it from the bottom with the cam out. On close inspection is appeared to be a small piece of rough casting that was stopping it coming out of the top. As the engine was completely dismantled I was able to get a small grindstone in and carefully remove the obstruction.
R.A Davis

Can you get a strong but small magnet on top of them? You know, the sort of thing used on cupboard catches.
Mike Howlett

Mike I have a magnet to lift it but it will not come out; might well be a casting issue and if what on earth can I do?
Rod Merrall

Why are you taking them out Rod? Can't you grip them with fine-nosed pliers and twist and lift? I would have thought that if you rotate them one way or another there must be a point at which they will come free. I've never had them stick to the point where they can't come out. Even if you plan to reuse them, the scratching would be very slight and only on the sides. They are a very hard steel.

If you plan to put new ones in any slight scratching won't matter. I guess you aren't taking the camshaft out. If you did they could be pushed up from below, or shoved down into the crankcase.
Mike Howlett

If you can grip enough of the cylindrical part and there is enough room (mine came out easily) I'd try grips - soft-jawed if you plan to reuse them, and twist back and fore and lift.
paulh4

Firstly the followers are chilled cast iron not steel. The camshaft is hardened steel. This is the combination that works best from tribological point of view. (modern engines have them the other way around).
Are we talking the bottle type followers or the A series bucket type ? I've converted my 18GG engine to the bucket type with the longer push rods. I still find the ones at the front of the engine tend to pit so have been changing them. I managed to get hold of some genuine Leyland followers which seem much more durable. I get them out by creating a suction with the end of my fore finger.
Can the followers not be pushed out from the bottom with the sump off ?
Paul Hollingworth

Thanks for the comments. I have removed 6 followers but 2 and 4 remain obstinate. They seem to foul a protruding casting on the block and I am fearful of being too vigorous unless I damage the follower and still can't remove it. I guess I will have to leave the 2 and change the other 6 and pushrods.
Rod Merrall

Could be junk/carbon built up on the outside of the bottom part of the follower, OR it could be worn that badly that it has a burr on the bottom edge-
Either way they should come out.
If you squirt some CRC or some similar penetrant down around them and just keep working them up and down, they'll give in eventually
Leaving them in there isn't an option, you have to get them out in case they're damaged/worn
There shouldn't be any block casting in the way as they fitted in there in the first place
It sounds like you have a new set so just get hold of them with a decent set of grippers ,a magnet won't be strong enough to pull them if they're damaged or gooped up at all, --- just keep working them up and down till they come out, they'll give in

willy
William Revit

I hear you Willy. If it doesn't work you better get yourself a plane ticket and show me how to do it!!!!


Rod
Rod Merrall

Can't be a casting issue those tappet bores are machined all the way through, otherwise they wouldn't go in.
As said it's either carbon build up or worn tappets with a burr.
Allan Reeling

I have encountered a few worn ones stuck like that over the years. For some it was a case of withdraw the camshaft, sump off and drive them out from below.
If the tappets were clattery before it is almost certainly bad wear causing it.
Paul Walbran

This thread was discussed between 12/12/2021 and 14/12/2021

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