Fraid I always use britpart ones - cheap and easy to replace if needs be. Been using these guys a bit lately - and been impressed with service&delivery…https://www.lrparts.net/

Managed to get some time today, so ran it with the cover off again and it was pretty clear where the issue was - valve 3 had a huge gap. Could I have missed this one when setting the gaps after putting the head on? Certainly possible :oops: But on setting it again I noticed that the spring...

I stuck in a brit part servo from Paddocks about 3 years ago and to date it's given me no problems so in this case britpart done me ok. Holds its charge for good long while too. It's one of the easier replacement jobs so if you do end up having to swap it out you should be able to manage it...

Thanks. Meant .25mm! Have a dial gauge but had difficulty getting it to the right positions to measure accurately but will attempt again as noise does sound tappet related doesn’t it so worth persevering there before further stripping I think.

I didn’t think the lobes looked iffy so avoided removing the side panels but may have to now. Rollers slightly scarred on cylinder 2. Good idea to remove push rods - didn’t think of that. Did pull the ht lead from each spark plug - didn’t have any noticeable affect on the rattle. Next chance I...

I’ll get the cover off again and take another look - I didn’t notice any wear in the rocker bushes but I’ll double check for any vertical movement. Ta

well they all rock freely ;)... when i put them back on the shaft there was nothing to 'attach' them in any way - just held in but the springs and the fixing bolts to the head on the relevant ones. You think they can slip about somehow? Didn't spot it when ran previously with cover off, but can...

*Update* So having had the head off I cleaned up everything (left the piston in the end as figured as the compression was fine, it was probably OK). Replaced the cam followers as on closer inspection a couple had small flat spots. Cam lobes themselves seemed to be OK tho feeling them from the...

If you fit the drums without putting the shoes on and tighten them fully will they turn then? If so definitely a shoe issue. If not it’s a drum / backplate problem

That’s massively low on them all unless your measuring in different units or I’m being stupid (highly possible) - they should be at 145 lb/in for them all if 7:1; higher if 8:1 which is why I thought the gasket has gone - or the head is loose. Worth checking all the bolts are still tight.

Head gasket might have gone?

Ha.oops sorry. I did mention it first up but it was a lot of pages ago now and age affects the memory ;-)

Top man - Thanks. If it comes to that I’ll shout. (Mine is a petrol btw - but you’re still right, trying to work out what’s happened to it in its previous ownership is always a joy!) Thanks again for the offer - and all the help from everyone so far. Not off again til Friday now so things on...

Side to side ever so slightly

Progress update: Got everything off and cleaned up now, including valve springs & stems etc. Most components looked in good order - though a couple of the stem oil seals weren't attached and were free to bob up and down. Will put on a new set when I re-assemble. That No 1 Piston has definitely...

Got another one out but last 3 will spin freely and move up and down a bit but get stuck near the top. Might make up a puller or am tempted to leave them in as they, and all the others, look in good nick. All rollers and sliders also look in good condition - nothing missing or split and still...

Got all the rollers and slides out and they all look good. Got 4 of the tappet guides out but 4 won’t come out. Is there a knack to get difficult ones out? Manual says something about a service tool which I don’t have. The others slide out easily with just a long finger. These 4 won’t budge…

Thank guys - will hopefully get to them tomorrow. While I have the head off is there anything else i can usefully do that normally would never get to? Should I clean off all the carbon etc or take out the springs and check / clean? or is it best to just leave things as they are considering it...

Cleaned up the rockers and replaced the shaft. Ran it again. Oil flows better but obviously didn’t stop the noise. Used a pipe and pretty sure there was a hefty clicking sound when held on the middle rocker. Using wood to press down on all them in turn didn’t seem to make a difference. So have...

Glad I’m not the only one who’s arms bash something out of place when attempting to fix one thing! (See choke cable error on my post re sounds nasty ;-)