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TheRookie
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2022
Posts: 141
Location: Western Cape
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 Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2025 3:45 pm Post subject: Single Hi Rev Valve spring Failure |
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Hi Guys
Last week we stated up my 1776c
Bare in mind this was an engine I bought that suffered pushrod bend due to high rpm after 700 miles after it was built
We striped it down to ensure all was good and it was , we then put it together and started up . It ran beautifully, the nest more a loud ticking sound , exhaust No4 loose .set it drove it a mile or 2 let it cool down E4 loose again ,it got as bad thatvthere was almost no threshold left on the adjusting screw of the Empi 1.25 rocker
What can be the cause of this follower failing
Thank
Last edited by TheRookie on Mon Dec 08, 2025 2:10 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Rob Combs
Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2020
Posts: 876
Location: South Bay LA, California
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| Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2025 4:14 pm Post subject: Re: CB PERFORMANCE Lighweight Cam Follower Failure |
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Really sorry to hear about this.
A couple follow up questions are in order here -
Did you reuse the cam and lifters or are they new?
If reused, did you put the lifters back in the same holes you found them in?
If new, what cam did you use with it? I seem to recall you were using a 2242, is that right?
If new, did you do the break in procedure to the letter of the law, with the appropriate oil?
Did the cam follower fail on the same hole that bent the pushrod? I can't imagine a not-deep-enough lifter bore would cause a bent pushrod but insufficient safety clearance between the retainer and the valve guide could cause a bent pushrod. If same cam and same hole, was the cam and/or lifter damaged at the same time and you didn't see it?
On the other hand, insufficient lifter bore depth/cam to lifter clearance could wipe out your cam or cause lifter damage. Did you check that clearance carefully?
Sucks to have to tear it all back down so soon after getting it running. |
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Teeroy 
Samba Member
Joined: April 20, 2003
Posts: 3899
Location: Eastern WA
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| Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2025 11:23 pm Post subject: Re: CB PERFORMANCE Lighweight Cam Follower Failure |
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Had a new case with an improperly machined lifter bore take out a lifter, then that cam lobe and egged out lifter bore. Had Brothers machine it and install bronze lifter bores, been fine for 16-17 years since
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TheRookie
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2022
Posts: 141
Location: Western Cape
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| Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2025 3:55 am Post subject: Re: CB PERFORMANCE Lighweight Cam Follower Failure |
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| Rob Combs wrote: |
Really sorry to hear about this.
A couple follow up questions are in order here -
Did you reuse the cam and lifters or are they new? ( Reuse )
If reused, did you put the lifters back in the same holes you found them in?( Yes ,I Marked and bagged them and did a diagram )
If new
Did the cam follower fail on the same hole that bent the pushrod? I can't imagine a not-deep-enough lifter bore would cause a bent pushrod but insufficient safety clearance between the retainer and the valve guide could cause a bent pushrod. ( No ,No3 intake ben the rod,)
On the other hand, insufficient lifter bore depth/cam to lifter clearance could wipe out your cam or cause lifter damage. Did you check that clearance carefully? Lifter bores were cut for the cam
Sucks to have to tear it all back down so soon after getting it running. |
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BFB
Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2014
Posts: 3158
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| Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2025 10:27 am Post subject: Re: CB PERFORMANCE Lighweight Cam Follower Failure |
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| TheRookie wrote: |
| Rob Combs wrote: |
Really sorry to hear about this.
A couple follow up questions are in order here -
Did you reuse the cam and lifters or are they new? ( Reuse )
If reused, did you put the lifters back in the same holes you found them in?( Yes ,I Marked and bagged them and did a diagram )
If new
Did the cam follower fail on the same hole that bent the pushrod? I can't imagine a not-deep-enough lifter bore would cause a bent pushrod but insufficient safety clearance between the retainer and the valve guide could cause a bent pushrod. ( No ,No3 intake ben the rod,)
On the other hand, insufficient lifter bore depth/cam to lifter clearance could wipe out your cam or cause lifter damage. Did you check that clearance carefully? Lifter bores were cut for the cam
Sucks to have to tear it all back down so soon after getting it running. |
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Skipped Robs other questions about break in.
I think these guys were spot on and since you answered all but the break in question id bet you either didnt get the cam broke in properly or the bores are wollered out. Only one way to find out for sure.
I rebuilt an engine for a guy that told me one day itd run great and another like shit. Figured dirt in the carb ( rail buggy) or something with timing. Nope, lifter bore was so shot that one of the lifters would run at enough of an angle that the top edge of the lifter hit the case and the edge of that lifter looked like sharks teeth. Not sure how it didnt bend a push rod, destroy cam etc etc but it didnt. Had Brothers install bronze lifter bores and on we went..
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Most experts aren't. |
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TheRookie
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2022
Posts: 141
Location: Western Cape
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| Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2025 2:23 pm Post subject: Re: CB PERFORMANCE Lighweight Cam Follower Failure |
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Hi Guys
So today we went in to so some surgery on the 1776cc
Removed the valve covers and upon closer inspection on the No 4 exhaust valve we discovered the culprit ,A broken HD valve spring.
What a relief, we will be going in further to inspect lifter face and came lobe soon
I am confident that they will be good |
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Rob Combs
Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2020
Posts: 876
Location: South Bay LA, California
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| Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2025 3:41 pm Post subject: Re: CB PERFORMANCE Lighweight Cam Follower Failure |
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Nice that you caught a break. If you broke one, the others are not far behind. Replace them all. Are you running enough valve spring for your cam?
If you have an inspection camera, you can just pull the plate off the bottom of the case and snake the camera lens up past the oil pickup bell. If you have the rocker arms off you may be able to reach up in there with something less hard than the cam & lifters, push the lifters back, and inspect. |
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TheRookie
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2022
Posts: 141
Location: Western Cape
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| Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2025 11:12 pm Post subject: Re: CB PERFORMANCE Lighweight Cam Follower Failure |
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| Rob Combs wrote: |
Nice that you caught a break. If you broke one, the others are not far behind. Replace them all. Are you running enough valve spring for your cam?
If you have an inspection camera, you can just pull the plate off the bottom of the case and snake the camera lens up past the oil pickup bell. If you have the rocker arms off you may be able to reach up in there with something less hard than the cam & lifters, push the lifters back, and inspect. |
Im replacing all of them Rob , Im not chancing it |
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