legacycentral bbs

Hi guys,

I just started getting a lifter tic, isolated which one it was with a stethescope, and just tried cleaning the rocker arm oil passage as a remedy.

Failing this fix I figure the lifter just might be toast, which means others will possibly be on their way out as well. (Started and ran for a few minutes but tic was still there)

So would hopefully like to find a few as spares. Ideally I'd like to get a few good used ones to keep as spares - and there are sadly no Legacies in the yards at the moment. Shipping would be to S4N 2J9 in Canada.

Thanks

Rabin

try starting it, if it ticks let it run for about 1-2 minutes, shut it off and restart it again. Sometimes I have to do this twice, but it sems to work on mine.

Others suggest running Seafoam, changing the oil and taking it out for a 30 minute romp (higher RPM's).

Good luck.

I doubt the engine is dirty though - it was resealed about 40K KMS ago, and has run Mobil 1 synthetic since. Can't get seafoam up here anyway either. (Inside valve cover is spotless - so is oil)

Prior to the oil passage fix - I caned it within an inch of it's life as that was the usual fix any time it's happened before. I'm also using the best OEM oil filters on it. (Those made a huge difference in start up clatter.)

Just did a whack of work to it to get it ready for the winter rally-x season and duty as the winter beater and the tic is annoying me... (although you can't really hear it in the car over the exhaust sound...)

Rabin

Rabin, where you from?
I've got a '90 Legacy I'm trying to part in WOodstock, which will be in the wrecking yard this week.

I have no idea the extent of work required to remove the part, but my engine was running great and doesn't have any abnormal sounds I'm aware of.

Send me a PM if you think that'll help you at all.

*waves hand..* ooh ooh, pick me.. I can fix sticky lash adjusters!

I had 160k NARSTY ones... they were so plugged up, they just lashed out angrily.. har har.. bad pun...


anywho, I found a way to clean them up, clean them out as long as they're not worn out... It's a delicate process, but my engine responded SO well to them. It went from tappy tappy to smooth and quiet.

what happens is the piston gunks up and no longer can fill up with oil, or worse, the valve gets stuck and they dont even try to fill.

Mine occurred when I ran sea foam through it and the damned stuff worked too well and knocked EVERYTHING loose and I made my tappers start lifting.. hehe and spun a rod bearing from a clogged journal. yah, my engine's oil probably hadn't been changed in like the four years the last owner owned it!

but yes, I can fix them if they're just stuck or clogged or the valve has stuck.

I can't really justify the downtime to send you the lifters - but if they're "fixable" then I might give it a go to see what makes them tic... (Now that was a bad pun!)

Any advise would be appreciated - but maybe I will check them out to see if there's a way to fix them.

Car is a beater and I've already put far too much into it. Lovin' the WRX springs and KYB's though - and our winter rally-x and ice dice season starts soon - so I'm stoked about using the Legacy...

Rabin

well, it takes about a quart of oil and lots of patients... IF they're not damaged *removing them from the rockers isn't too difficult, but you need to keep track of em. (keeps the wear in, the same...)

I've read up on bleeding them, but once they go, I've read that it's usually a temp solution to bleed them as they'll eventually tic again.

I've cleaned the oil passages in the rocker arms with hopes that it would refill - but no luck. I might try to bleed it to see how long it lasts - but was hoping to find some spares in case it's just worn out.

Rabin

bleeding em only helps if you can break the crud free.. otherwise they dont refil.

sounds like if they're not building up hydraulic pressure, the valve is sticking open or it's completely gunked up.. mine were undamaged, but all funky, so yah, lots of cleaning, but 5k miles later, they're silent. so my lash adjusters now have 170k miles and are lovely.

My engine is pretty squeaky clean. Synthetic stays nice and clean, and has been on synthetic for the last 40k kms. Currently has 370k kms (231k miles)

Runs awesome aside from the tic - so need to get it sorted. Hopefully I can find some spare lash adjusters that will do the trick as I suspect it's worn out and others will likely be soon following it.

If I don't get any responses - then will likely try to bleed them - maybe it just got bound up and just needs to get bled out to function again.

It's the passenger side head - and very accessible - so maybe I will try it - nothing to lose.

Rabin

Thanks to soobcollektor I have some replacements to go into the car...

Rabin