Pushrod Tubes - new or swap....

[bertnuggit]

Making slow progress but I want my van back before Summer is over........I've had my watercooled engine swapped (replacement 1.9 DG) & new exhaust fitted, looks promising apart from an oil leak from the pushrod tubes/seals. I've looked at my Haynes, some older club 80 90 posts & I'm confused, advice needed please.....

Old engine is out (has metal pushrods, look OK )...New (old) engine fitted, has plastic pushrods & the leak - I wonder if these are the type used in Beetles & therefore the wrong sort? Can I remove pushrods from old engine and fit them in the new engine via rocker covers??? Otherwise, I buy a new set...I've priced up new ones - Machine 7 @ £135 a set, VW Heritage for £32 each!!!

Please help ..... fitting advice? any other suppliers?

[mm289]

Can't say that I have seen plastic pushrod tubes...

The standard metal ones can only be replaced with a head off so I am guessing you don't want to go there!

The normal route is to replace with 2 piece expanding tubes which I am guessing are the ones you have seen at Machine 7 - price sounds about right. To fit these you "break" the old one piece tube, having removed the pushrod, fit two piece tube and re-fit pushrod (rocker off, remove rocker arm). Can be done in situ with no nead to remove head, just be careful to get the pushrod seated properly in the lifter. Easy way to tell is at TDC on that piston (both valves closed) the pushrods/rockers should be at roughly the same height - if one is much higher it is likely the rod isn't seated properly in the lifter.

You can replace the tubes singly if only one is leaking - doesn't look as good and no gaurantee the others won't start leaking later!

HTH

MM

[bertnuggit]

Thanks MM,

my camper has been at the workshop for 4 weeks now & I wanted to head off in it this weekend (booked), but I think the only way is to order a new set from Machine7 & hope they arrive & get fitted in time....I was hoping to save some £££ & reuse parts I have.....cost of engine & exhaust already, plus labour (??)

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The standard metal ones can only be replaced with a head off so I am guessing you don't want to go there!

does that mean pushrods out of removed engine then into fitted engine is a no go????

Has anyone had removed pushrods from an engine & refitted ???

[mm289]

sorry, just to clarify, do you mean pushrods or pushrod tubes?

MM

[bertnuggit]

Pushrod tubes...

I think the ones in my old engine are the standard metal ones - the old engine is out, not sure if I can remove the tubes & put in the new engine, now fitted in the van.

[Aidan]

you can only swap the tubes if you do it head off which is whole can of worms, if the new engine is ok apart from the leaking tube(s) then use the collapsible ones to sort out the leak(s)

[mm289]

Yep, as per post above and Aidans, you can swap them but it is a head off job so not worth doing unless you have other reasons to remove the head.

If the metal ones are swapped you need to gently expand them so the "concertina" compresses again on refitting otherwise they will never seal.
MM

[Ian Hulley]

http://www.vwheritage.com/vw_act_shop.p ... try_GB.htm

[bertnuggit]

Many thanks,

The VW Heritage ones are pretty pricey, nearly £300 for a set with seals...

I've ordered a set of telescopic pushrod tubes from http://www.coolairvw.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for about £125, they're made by CSP Products in Germany....I phoned them and confirmed they are suitable for my watercooled...Hope they do the job! Please don't tell me they're no good..............

[bertnuggit]

Update...New telescopic pushrod tubes fitted & all seems OK, thanks .......

Removing the old ones from my old engine would have been a big job, now selling the old engine to recoup some ££

[el_kel1]

Update...New telescopic pushrod tubes fitted & all seems OK, thanks .......

Removing the old ones from my old engine would have been a big job, now selling the old engine to recoup some ££

may be worth investing in then, can you breifly explain how you fitted toyrs? step by step wise?