31 replies to this topic

[thebullet]

Hi all, In need of some help here.

I have recently done some work on a 998cc Mini Sprite 1982.

I fitted a 12g295 head onto it and various other jobs to get it working fine for good use.

Today was the first day of starting it since and it went fine! after a while a ticking noise started and I could not figure out where it was so I turned the engine off. I had a look under the rocker cover to find no oil is getting to them! I oiled them after putting them on and this saved them from melt down! inside the rocker cover and the rockers are completely dry.

Now I read that the oil feeds on the rockers and head do not match. The feed on the rocker is number 2 and on the head the feed is one, this would be the reason why. I then checked the old head I took off, to find that the old head also does have a feed on number 1. This then has completely puzzled me. Does anyone know why no oil is getting to the rockers?

EDIT: I don't think the oil feed in the rockers is a problem, it is something else, and I can't understand why no oil is getting to the rockers?

Thanks for the help.

Matthew.

Edited by thebullet, 31 August 2010 - 09:37 PM.

[bmcecosse]

Did you use the same set of rockers ?? Take spark plugs out and remove rocker assembly - and crank the engine on the starter - does oil come up the feed hole in the head to the rockers ? And - does the rocker pillar in that position have the feed hole up to the rocker shaft ?? Some 295 heads have been skimmed too far - into the oil passage - so if NO oil comes up the feed hole you will need to remove the head and investigate.

[thebullet]

Did you use the same set of rockers ?? Take spark plugs out and remove rocker assembly - and crank the engine on the starter - does oil come up the feed hole in the head to the rockers ? And - does the rocker pillar in that position have the feed hole up to the rocker shaft ?? Some 295 heads have been skimmed too far - into the oil passage - so if NO oil comes up the feed hole you will need to remove the head and investigate.

Same set yes, but I stripped them down and put them back togethor, this might mean I put a pedastal in the wrong order I will investigate in a bit. I got it skimmed at the mini and metro centre and they did inform me if it was skimmed too far it would hit theg gallery and when checked only 10 thou was taken overall before I even took it in so it wouldn't hit.

I will check everything later. My only worry now is that I read that if the rockers are removed it will disturb the gasket. I really don't want this to happen as I have just replaced it along with the head, the last thing I want to do is to replace head gasket again!

Thanks for the help.

[Big_Adam]

Might be of some help but, years ago I got a 12g295 and found the oil feed from the head didn't match up to the oil hold on the rockers. But I was using rocket shims to put them higher up so I ground out a shim to allow oil feed.

So might be worth a check.

[thebullet]

Might be of some help but, years ago I got a 12g295 and found the oil feed from the head didn't match up to the oil hold on the rockers. But I was using rocket shims to put them higher up so I ground out a shim to allow oil feed.

So might be worth a check.

I will give this a check later! thank you!

[Ethel]

Have you got the rocker shaft the right way round?

Just blow through all the oil ways to make sure they're clear and check the holes line up as it goes back together. Unwind the tappet screws fully so the springs are unloaded, but you may still need a new head gasket if you undo the head studs.

[thebullet]

Have you got the rocker shaft the right way round?

Just blow through all the oil ways to make sure they're clear and check the holes line up as it goes back together. Unwind the tappet screws fully so the springs are unloaded, but you may still need a new head gasket if you undo the head studs.

I will have a look. So when I take the rockers off, this will mean I need to replace the head gasket? Just after putting a new one in along with the new head. hmm.

[Ethel]

You might get away with it, but head gaskets are plastic (as opposed to elastic) so once they've been compressed once they won't compress the same again. You can slide a rocker shaft out, without undoing the head studs, if you unload all of the valve springs.

[thebullet]

You might get away with it, but head gaskets are plastic (as opposed to elastic) so once they've been compressed once they won't compress the same again. You can slide a rocker shaft out, without undoing the head studs, if you unload all of the valve springs.

Ok thanks, I will have a go and see what happens. I need the car to be working in 2 weeks and I still need to give it an MOT get it taxed and insured aswell as sorting the brakes out. Running out of time!

Thanks

Matthew.

[thebullet]

Right, rockers are off and they are all put back togethor correctly. When checking if the hole lines up on the head with the first pedestal they don't really. Only about half a hole meet on both the pedestal and the head. I checked my old head and it is the same situation. The rockers havn't been changed so why on both heads do the holes not fully match up and what can be done about it? maybe drilling the whole bigger?

There is a little oil but not alot, maybe enough when driving but when on idle running for the first time there is hardly any oil.

This maybe confusing, I am sorry.

Any idea?

Thanks.

[Ethel]

I wouldn't think it'll matter too much if there's some mismatch, but you could counter sink one of the holes a little to improve things.

[Dan]

Have the pedestals been skimmed? The base of the feed pedestal should already be countersunk to allow for any mis-match.

[thebullet]

Right a big problem, slacking the head off to stop it warping and placing the rockers back on to try and stop the head lifting whilst cranking it over testing for oil did not work and water went all into the pistons everywhere past the gasket. Stripped it down in 20 mins and ordered some new gaskets. I still can't see much oil coming through but the hole. I will check tomorrow and see if it comes through block.

Not going well!

[bmcecosse]

Obviously - you should have drained the water down first! Doh!!!
Do you have any oil pressure when cranking on the starter with plugs out - how much on the gauge??

[thebullet]

Obviously - you should have drained the water down first! Doh!!!
Do you have any oil pressure when cranking on the starter with plugs out - how much on the gauge??

I should have yes! and it dose't have a guage it has a light but I am not sure if the light goes off once the engine has started or when it is being turned over, it dosen't go off when being turned over and I havn't started it to check if it goes off as I had the plugs out yesterday.