QuestionQUESTION: Hi Howard, My son and I are rebuilding a 1978 MG Midget 1500 engine and we were told that you have to mark the tappets for which cylinder they go to before you would take them out?
Thank you
ANSWER: Hi Dewayne,
That is a good thing to do on any engine you tear down and intend to reuse the lifters and cam. Most lifters ware into a pattern that matches the lobe that it is riding on and if you just mix them up that exact shape will not match on a different lobe. There is a high pressure on a cam to lifter and if that load is placed on a very small spot of a different lifter it can force all of the oil out of that area and metal to metal contact will cause damage.
The same is true of valve keepers, you MUST NEVER mix up valve keepers if you are going to reuse them. It is not so much importance as to which valve they go on but must never be broken up as a pair. A very high risk of valve breakage will result.
Howard
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi, Thank you. We have found more problems, block needs bored, crank needs turned,and a new cam shaft.So my next ?is about our 72 midget.I rebuilt the slave cylinder for the clutch, I can not get it bleed, is the piston suppose to move easy or be tight? Thank you Dewayne
ANSWER: The piston should be snug if it is the type that has the seal on the piston but if it is the kind that the seal is not mounted on the piston then the piston should be free moving.
Howard
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: HI Howard, Thank you for your Help. When we took it apart there was only one seal on the piston and a spring. The rebuild kit came with three seals one that goes on the shaft and one that looks like it goes on the end of the piston maybe i do not know for sure.Thank you again Dewayne
AnswerSorry Dewayne, I never seen a slave cylinder with any more than ONE seal on a piston. All of the factory slave cylinders only had one seal on the piston. There may be an aftermarket cylinder that had a cup type seal between the piston and the spring but then it would not have a seal on the piston. If you piston has a groove in it, then it only has a seal on the piston and no other seals. There will also be a boot over the open end of the cylinder and that's all. When you install the seal on the piston you must put the lip of the seal facing toward the fluid. Use DOT 4 fluid.
You need to purchase a service manual for this car if you are going to keep it.
Howard
