Club 80-90 Forums

Hi,just driven a 150 miles down the motorway in our 87 t25 1.9 petrol and engine is very tappity and backfiring a little on idle.my mechanic is going to replace the hydraulic tappits but in the manual it says to adjust to touch and then give it two whole turns is that correct???? There seems to be some debate on how much to turn it .

I'd be checking quite a few other things before changing tappets, looking at 200 quid in parts alone as the push rod tubes need choming out and telescopic tubes fitting, don't let the mechanic take the heads off, that could be even more pain.

Check oil is mineral 15/40 or 20/50
check oil is up to level
check oil pressure and check oil pressure lights work.
check compression.

Ratwell guide suggests 1.5 and many on here follow it.

http://www.ratwell.com/technical/HydraulicLifters.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

check the rocker arm nuts are not loose, it has been known .......

Are you sure it's tapoet noise
Backfiring could be running lean and tappety noise could be pinking?

Great advice as always , will definitely check rocker covers before getting into it , and come to think of it there is some oil around the cover joints which was not there before .i am pretty sure its not running lean though as I haven't altered the timing in ages .will let you know how it goes.

no, i refer to the rocker ARM nuts, what holds the rocker ARMS onto the engine, inside the rocker covers . if these come loose the push rods become slack and make the tappets rattle

flatnbroke wrote:Great advice as always , will definitely check rocker covers before getting into it , and come to think of it there is some oil around the cover joints which was not there before .i am pretty sure its not running lean though as I haven't altered the timing in ages .will let you know how it goes.

Lean can be air leaks

Sorry mocki,got wrong end of the stick....sounds like a good possibility will make sure I check them out.

Hi all!! Very happy bunny today , had a good go at the engine checking for other causes of tappit noise combined with coughing and eventually found a very loose spark plug about 4 turns from coming out .refitted it and runs like a dream once more. I have certainly learnt a lesson.

Ha, had the same this time last year!

Experience is everything.