Jaguar Repair: Stake down, cam lobes, valve clearance

Question
QUESTION: I have a 1985 xj6 and I installed the stake down kit on exhaust side because of the machine tapping noise should that noise stop when I install them.

ANSWER: Hi Isaac,

The reason the stake down kit is needed is that when the engine gets hot the lifter sleeves come loose and move up and out of their bore and the cam lobes start clipping the edge of the sleeves and will continue until they eat the lifer sleeves and break them. If your noise is the tip of the cam contacting the edge of the lifter sleeves then you MUST remove the cam and drive the sleeves back down then install the stake down kit.

The stake down kit will not force the sleeves down to their seated position and it is not possible to drive the sleeves down with the cam in place.

A procedure must be followed when installing the stake down kit. If you are not familiar with the procedure let me know and I will go over it for you. It is not that hard but if not followed can result in a disaster for the engine.

You also need to check valve clearance too as that can make the same kind of noise.

Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks could you please go over the procedure. I hear the noise at low speed about 40mph and stops or seems to stop at 60mph and up.

ANSWER: No one can diagnosis the problem by when and at what speed it makes noise. That is useless information. All you need to do is remove the exhaust cam cover and look at the edges of the lifter sleeves to see if the cam lobes have been clipping them. Then check valve clearance on the exhaust valves to see if the clearance is too much thus a noise.

I am going to post the procedure on my "Tech Tips" page of my web site as the procedure is a full page of writing. Let me know if your cam lobes are hitting and I will give you my web page address.

Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks please send web page address. I looked at them today and there was damage to 2nd cam fm driver side. The same as before I install stake down kit do you have a picture of how it should look with stake down kit installed. Thanks again.

Answer
Hi Isaac,

I put the page up on my web site today. Go to the site at,

http://mg-tri-jag.net/Stake%20down%20Kit.htm

I don't have any photos but you should not have any problems if you follow the directions and don't skip any of it.

If you have any questions let me know.

Howard