2lt Aircooled valve or rings gone?

[crazydiamond]

So what do you think? My 2lt Aircooled Devon is poorly. Very suddenly after startup from cold bad misfire and noisy tick/rattle from front right cylinder. At first I thought that a hydraulic tappet was'nt working but the misfire and noise has'nt gone away after a brief drive that usually gets tappets working.
So is it a valve gone or a little end or ring? No disernable smoke allthough it was getting a bit smokey on startup during our holiday to devon and norfolk in september. It was running as well as always prior to the problem.
The engine was a recon about 80k miles ago so is it worth stripping or go for another recon engine?

[Paul Weeding]

Do a compression test and go from there...

[benlawlor85]

As above get compression tested,
Then drop the engine to investigate further.
If you have a nice warm shed rebuilding a CU motor is a great winter project.
Talk to Sarran and check out his youtube vids.
Good luck

[123-jn]

when my tappets used to regularly drain down it needed more than a brief drive to pump them up sometimes 10 miles or so was required. Do a compression test of all 4 cylinder to make sure nothing has really messed up then take it for a good long local drive, (local in case of trouble). Get it nice and hot and do a fair few miles. If that doesn't work take the rocker cover off and see if either of the valves on that cyclinder are soft (push the pushrod end of the rocker hard and see if it gives. If it does it is tappett related!! If not try resetting the preload in the tappetts on that cylinder to contact plus 2 full turns. If the vehicle had been stood for a while before the start up this is the most likely problem. If I leave mine more than a week usually a tappett will have drained down. If it is still soft try an oil change as well this usually helps.