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Sat Mar 19, 2022 9:01 am

I am putting my putting things back together on my 87 2.1. I have the push rods in and centered on lifters. My issue is, one of the rods sticks out of the head a little further than the others(1/4" or so). I am guessing that is a problem. It must be the lifter is not down in case far enough, I just don't see how that is possible. Or is this a normal thing?

Sat Mar 19, 2022 9:11 am

Is that raised one being pushed on by a cam lobe in the normal manner?

Sat Mar 19, 2022 9:54 am

I am not sure. How can I check that?

Sat Mar 19, 2022 10:05 am

Pardon my ignorance. Do the lifters move up and down?

Sat Mar 19, 2022 10:18 am

That one is probably just sitting on the apex of a cam lobe, thats normal. Just means that that valve should be open at that point in the rotation.

Sat Mar 19, 2022 10:34 am

Not a VW but......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIBH0PvIC_s

Sat Mar 19, 2022 11:26 am

gregburb wrote: Pardon my ignorance. Do the lifters move up and down?

Ignorance is fine, you have to start somewhere, but you should have a basic understanding of what the various parts of the engine do and how they do it, if you want a good chance of success with internal engine work.

As the camshaft rotates, the cam lobes align with the lifters at the appropriate times and push them up (or sideways rather in the case of the WBX). The lifters push on the push rods. The push rods push on the rocker arms. The rocker arms push open the valves. Each lifter/pushrod/rocker arm/valve is pushed up by a cam lobe once every two revolutions of the crankshaft. At any time through those two revolutions there is always at least a couple lifters that are being pushed up by cam lobes.

Sat Mar 19, 2022 12:32 pm

Thanks for the info. I am learning more everyday.