Valve Lash Adjuster Repair Kits - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Aussiblue · 01-09-2002, 01:41

As some of you know I am currently slowly rebuilding the 3.9 Litre MPEFI in my NB Fairlane after the auto gearbox repair shop apparently broke an oil filler cap an left the broken bits in the engine (result: bits broken off timing chain links, timing chain tension adjuster mushroomed, timing chain dampers broken, oil pump screen plugged with broken bits, metal timing chain bits enter pumps when screen plugged and safety valve opens, distributor gear stripped etc).

I have stripped down and partially reassembled the block (honed, ridge reamed, new bearings, new rings etc) and have started on the head. I don't want to risk leaving any small metal or plastic bits in the hydraulic valve lash adjusters but the quoted price of $34 per adjuster has me thinking twice about going with new ones. Especially as they working fine before the pump locked up. Some aftermarket manuals say these adjusters can be stripped, cleaned and reassembled; other, including the Ford factory one say no.

I assume the K-line kit as decribed below will allow the cheaper route of rebuilding them:
See http://www.perthwa.com.au/leanda/kline.html
"VALVE LASH ADJUSTER REPAIR KIT
TO SUIT FORD FALCON EA-EB 1988-3/1993

COMPRISING
12 RUBBER PISTON RETAINER CLIPS
12 RUBBER BALL SEAT RETAINER CLIPS"

Has anybody used this kit? Is it a wise optiopn?

BTW how do you attach a standard degree wheel to these. The multibelt pulley is too deep and the attaching bolt too short to attached it to the pulley with the centre bolt. I guess you just attach the degree wheel to the crank shaft before reinstalling the pulley and mark the timing cover accordingly; or is there another way?

partsguy · 01-09-2002, 01:49

Yes, used to sell them.....work well unless the bore of the lash adjuster is damaged..very effective both mechanically and financially:s2:

Jase_ELXR8 · 01-09-2002, 01:52

i've never used the kits, but i hear they're ok. They save a few dollars. You shouldn't need a degree wheel if you're just doing a standard build. Key straight up and dowel up top... easy...

Aussiblue · 01-09-2002, 01:53

Thanks muchly ; I'll get a set then. BTW to save others wasting their time the email address on the Leanda site doesn't work.

Aussiblue · 01-09-2002, 02:00

Normally I wouldn't worry but....

As this car is an ex Ford New Projects engineering car and apparently some sort of prototype (everything in the car including the little plastic hub caps on the mags is marked "MV-1" in beige paint and it's a factory 4 speed auto although built in June 1989) I thought it would be best to check those timing marks against true TDC. I doubt its got a unique cam or crank but it won't hurt to check.

EDFUTURA · 01-09-2002, 05:15

Hi Aussiblue,

I've fitted a set of the "piston retainer clips" but didn't need to use the "ball seat retainer clips" because I was actually doing up a set of EF lifters to go into my ED (I got a complete rocker assembly from Ford Power for $270) - and the EF lifters have metal ball seat retainers which are much better (ie. bastards don't break up whilst being handled).

The piston retainers are of course simply there to hold the lifter together. As you've probably found out, if the old retainers don't break up as you knock the lifters out then they certainly will when you try to remove them to pull the lifters apart (I've actually fitted a set of lifters without the retainers and managed to get the whole thing back together successfully and running fine - I don't recommend trying it though as the term "one armed paperhanger" comes nowhere near describing the difficulty and terror involved).

THE SECRET: (insert flowery fanfare here) - to fit the new retainers, soak them in hot water!!! You will find an absolute %$#@& of a job - ie. getting the little buggers on - will be just too easy when the retainers are softened with hot water. :s5

Aussiblue · 01-09-2002, 08:35

Thanks for the tip EDFUTURA; I'll let you know how it goes. Some of the ball seat retainers are already broken so I'll be be using them as well.

Aussiblue · 01-10-2002, 07:54

Picked up a set from Veales. They were easy to put together without warming them up; just coated the adjuster with oil before fitting.

EDFUTURA · 01-10-2002, 08:57

You lucky bugger! - the ones I got were very hard (ie. like very hard plastic rather than rubber) and I had all sorts of problems getting them on - ie. even with oil - but once I dipped them in hot water they then popped on really easy.