Tappets - Clean or replace?

[Rusty]

I have a tappet that keeps sticking and sounding pretty tappety...

Can I remove them and clean them or should I just replace? Not overly keen on taking the head off but but would be good to do the stem seals too, is it possible to do.it all in situ? Parts sources / prices?

What's the torque on the cam caps?

[driftin jo]

You can do the stem seals in situ ok, there are compressed air methods of holding the valve on its seat but I prefer the old fashioned way.
You lower the piston on the cylinder you are going to work on to BDC, then lower some string wet with a little oil into the cylinder through the spark plug hole.
Once you have a good amount in you bring the piston back up until its pressed against the string, this holds the valves in place so you can change the seals.

[newsh]

There was an article a while back on how to disassemble the tappets for cleaning, you basically slap them down hard on a piece of wood to get the insides out. Can't remember where it was though.

[Error404]

http://www.nuvision.ndo.co.uk/tappets.htm

[Rusty]

Found that on a search

Where's best to source parts or get a refurbished head / rebuild done?

[Error404]

Jp

[mcandmar]

I was never convinced with the idea of removing valve springs with the head in situ, sounds like an easy way to bend a valve to me. Personally i wouldn't touch it unless you are removing the head, that way you can do it properly and remove each valve and clean all the carbon off them and lap them in again. And if your going that far you might as well give it to JP to do his magic on. The extra cost for a head gasket and bolts is well worth it IMO.

[willg54]

You shouldn't need to take anything off to clean the trappets, just the cams. Then they just pull out.

Will at VRS usually has some good ones if they need replacing. I changed mine as the surface on a few had pitted.

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[Thuppu]

Quite easy to change the stem seals without removing the head. Totally different and a lot expencier job when removing the head.