How to indentify a bad tappet from a good one?

[Error404]

I'm taking my IM and valve cover off tomorrow and thought it would be a good time to try and replace a noisy hydraulic tappet that's been irritating me for a while.
I've got a load of spares from the head I took off my old 3B engine.

Can anyone tell me how to tell which are good or not so I can replace the noisy one(s)?

Cheers
Alex

[mcandmar]

You can usually tell by feel, two thumbs and a firm push and they will compress and spring back up, if one is bad there will be very little resistance.

[Error404]

good advice, thanks Mark
so any that are considerably squishier than others, I can swap.

Is there any way of cleaning them out?

[mcandmar]

Yes they can be cleaned out, basically the plunger can be pulled out to clean the valve/spring. Never done it myself, only ever swapped them out for good 2nd hand units.

[WabTheKing]

i use a tub of parafin to wash/soak them and then blow them out with an air line

[Error404]

cool, thanks guys. I'll go and have a play with a spare one in a minute and take some pics for future reference

[Fat Audi 80]

I have vague memories of seeing a guide somewhere....

[Tony Stark]

http://www.clubgti.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=76499

Heres one.

[rs200]

Yes they can be cleaned out, basically the plunger can be pulled out to clean the valve/spring. Never done it myself, only ever swapped them out for good 2nd hand units.

there is more type of of tappets. not everyone have spring inside of them.
audi I5 20vt don't have it. just little piston which is in middle.

few time I have problem with noise tapets ,and it is horible job.
first try to push when engine is cold. than when engine is hot. ofcourse that dependent of noise - hot or cold engine.

beleve me all new tappets are not good solution .

[Fat Audi 80]

http://www.clubgti.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=76499

Heres one.

That's the one I was thinking of!

[4WheelDrifter]

You get pretty sick of having twenty valves after cleaning all the associated valve parts, especially after you've cleaned and ported the head.

I wouldn't like to do a 24 valve engine.

[Error404]

I done bad!
Up in the loft above my garage getting a bag of old tappets out of a box and the bag ripped and two of them fell down onto my bonnet and put pin dents and a big chip in it. Another garage scar to add to the ever growing list

Really struggled to separate the piston from the main tappet body by twatting it on the bench -
couldn't pull it out with pliers either

Going to try and pop it out with the airline today, knowing my luck I'll take a window out or something...
might move the car outside

Oven cleaner and thinners at the ready!

[Tony Stark]

I feel your pain, had a 16v inlet manifold fall on my golf once doing the bonnet and front wing a treat. Showed up nicely on a shiny black car.*

I was gunna suggest the airline trick. Just make sure the piston is facing down beforehand i guess

[newsh]

I done bad this week too Lent the avant to a mate, came back in the coupe, the avant was in a different position, clipped the back bumper with the (recently painted) coupe front one!