testing lifters?????

hpaulb · 01-04-2005, 10:08 AM

Did a search and lot much help other than if they push in earily, there shot? On assembly, took a push. Some easy, some real hard (can't push in by hand and some in the middle? What's the real test? Can some be replaced or do I really need to do the whole set?

carsontc · 01-04-2005, 11:33 AM

don't need to replace the whole set...but I would only keep the 'hard' ones

I have 1 or 2 that need replacing. they tap only on start up and then only for a second. but not every start up. depends on the position of the cam lobe whether they collapse overnight

ae1969 · 01-04-2005, 01:50 PM

Here is what you are looking at from the inside....

Ideally replace all.........but I would just replace those that fail. If one fails the others are soon to follow. Its up to you.

hpaulb · 01-04-2005, 03:36 PM

How hard is hard. Rechecked them and found. 1 hard, can't push in. 3 med. and only push in around ~2 mm. 4 are soft and push in further than 3-4mm aproximately?

ae1969 · 01-04-2005, 03:41 PM

looks like you have 1 good one.

hpaulb · 01-05-2005, 09:36 AM

Just spoke to a Porsche mechanic. He says there is no way to fully see if a Lifter is good. He states the only meathod of testing them is to run the engine then remove the lifters and press the centre pin. BUT only the one compressed will be hard. The others will be semi hard???? Now mine have been out of the car for some time so how do I know without installing, running then removing again??

VINMAN · 01-05-2005, 09:53 AM

I would just replace all of them while you have them out. Better to be on the safe side.
Also how do the camshaft lobes look?

hpaulb · 01-05-2005, 11:37 AM

Kind of expensive to replace them all. The lobes look perfect and all measure to spec. Just spoke to another Porsche mechanic who suggests not replacing any because there probable not "loaded" due to them being out of the car foe 1.5 years. Heads rebuilt and he asked if the machine shop set the correct Valve Stem Height. What is this spec. I never asked the shop. They don't typically do Porsche stuff so now I have to go and have it checked. May have just waisted a new head gasket.

carsontc · 01-05-2005, 11:39 AM

you should be able to inject oil into that 1.5mm hole and fill them

hpaulb · 01-10-2005, 07:23 AM

OK, after reading all the info I could find and speaking to a couple Porsche mechanics, I tried the pump up submerged in oil. Didn't work so well so I took a ceringe from my nurse wife and after three injection of around 30CC each, they firmed up almost solid. Excellent. But I still have one the was so hard from the begining, I suspect its bad? I've heard hard is good? Soaked it in WD40 for a couple days and tried to use a drift and malet but doesn't want to move? Any idea's?

carsontc · 01-13-2005, 05:31 PM

anyway you can use a spring and some sort of vise setup to see if each 'pumped up' lifter collapses overnight?

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

How exactly do these lifters "work" anyway? I've never pulled one apart or disassembled the cam tower to really look at the operation of them. Anyone got a good FAQ on 'em?