tappet has dissapeared inside engine?

[avant-garde]

Hi everyone, to cut a long story short I stripped the thread on the rocker gear retaining nut and stud. I drove it around the block when I thought I had fixed it only to find one of the rocker gear retaining nuts sitting at the bottom of the rocker cover and the left hand side rocker gear hanging off the two rocker gear retaining studs.

I have now replaced the stud and I've ordered 7mm nuts. I went to fit the rocker gear back on and it now doesn't sit flush to the engine. Having looked a bit more I notice that one of the push rods (left hand side, nearest the passeger) goes a cm or so into the engine. It's not seating in anything. The sound/feel of the metal when I push it all the way in is different to the other pushrod that locates its tappet.

So I'm thinking that there is no tappet for the pushrod to sit into. Am I facing the costly task of taking the engine out in order to fish the little tappet out? Or will it be okay for it to sit at the bottom of wherever it's sitting now? Would it come out if I drain the oil?

After reading some of the threads on replacing tappets etc it seems pretty straightforward to fit a new one...

Have I caused any damage to what ever the other end of the (missing) tappet touches?

Any help or advice will as always be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

[kevtherev]

What engine is it?

[avant-garde]

...it's a 1982 2.0 cu Aircooled. I've got DRLA carbs fitted.

Do you know if a tappet can fall into the engine if the rocker gear works itself loose? If so do you reckon I could get it all out if I drain the oil etc?

I have no idea what to do.

Cheers.

[kevtherev]

Lucky lucky
With Aircooled it's easy peasy...
take the rod out, remove the tube
remove the tappet

and no it cant fall in unless it has been destroyed.
it's probably just collapsed, or the top lid has broken up and the rod is just going into the tappet



as you can see they are quite substantial

[avant-garde]

Many thanks indeed for that info Kevtherev.

Can you just tell me what does the other end of the tappet rest on? is it the camshaft?
So if the tappet has broken up is it just a case of fishing it out with a magnet? Is there anywhere for the bits of tappet to go or is it sealed?

Also when I take the pushrod tubes out, the oil gushes out...is that normal?

One last question...
When I put the new tappet in do I just push it in using the pushrod and some grease to keep the tappet in place on the end of the push rod?

Cheers again.

[kevtherev]

Many thanks indeed for that info Kevtherev.

Can you just tell me what does the other end of the tappet rest on? is it the camshaft?

yes

So if the tappet has broken up is it just a case of fishing it out with a magnet? Is there anywhere for the bits of tappet to go or is it sealed?

http://www.ratwell.com/technical/HydraulicLifters.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=331065" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also when I take the pushrod tubes out, the oil gushes out...is that normal?

you won't lose it all.. most of it is in the sump

One last question...
When I put the new tappet in do I just push it in using the pushrod and some grease to keep the tappet in place on the end of the push rod?

no grease... it rests in a bore, put the new tappet in and reassemble.
read the article

[cygnak]

One of these makes tappet removal a lot easier.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/telescopic-magn ... tool-30608" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As Key said, oil shouldn't gush out unless it's over filled or parked at quite an angle.

Good luck

[avant-garde]

Once again I can't thank you enough...I was thinking that I had ruined my engine...now there is hope that I havn't.

One last question.
I've been looking at magnets and was thinking of buying the following:

Sealey Flexible Magnetic Pick-Up Tool 1.5kg Capacity
Flexible chromed shaft with classic styled composite handle. Use with or without magnet protection cap. 1.5kg Pick-up capacity from Ø10mm magnet.
Length: 560mm
Lifting Capacity: 1.5kg

In your opinion do you think that 1.5kg pick up capacity is enough to pull out a messed up tappet? And I assume that because the pushrods are 10mm ø the magnet with the same 10mm ø will be okay to use?

Thanks for all your help.

[avant-garde]

Thanks for that magnet reference.
I don't suppose you happen to know the ø of the Maplin magnet?

...and yes I'm parked on a hill! There are numerous oil patches on the road outside my house from all the work I've done. Not looking forward to the rainy season as it is going to be one hell of a skid pan!

Cheers for all the advice, thanks.

[cygnak]

I don't mate, sorry. I got mine at Busfreeze last year for a couple of quid. Replaced my tappets for new and the magnet worked a treat, as long as the tappets are free flowing in the cylinder they should come out easily. I've pulled them out before using a strong paperclip, bent at the end slightly.