Valve lifter fell apart during engine assembly!

[Lars S]

During assembly of my stock -70 1.7 I was by hand wiggeling in the #4 exhaust lifter and it fell apart , no force at all was used. All other lifters seems OK, should be stock lifters.

Have been running this engine for the last 50000 of its 100000 miles, did not notice any strange sounds last time I started it which was a short run after sitting for 10 years.

Only thing I can remember as strange was one rocker shaft came lose for about 4000 miles ago...retightened it and everything looked and sounded OK since then...dont remember if it was this side though and if it could have any influence(?)

Looking at the broken ends (pic at the bottom) it seems that some of the fracture is hammered (but not wery much) so it might be that it broke during running and have been held together by the force from the valve springs.
Lifter bore and cam lobe looks unharmed.

What can the reason be and is this a known issue with Type4 lifters?

//Lars S

_________________
Porsche 914 -72, Bahia Red daily driver
VW411 2-d -70, White, sold
VW412 4-d, -73, Gold Metallic, daily driver
Suzuki T500, -69, Candy Gold, sold
Suzuki K50, -77, Black, daily driver
BMW R69S -69, White, sold
Husqvarna 118cc, -47, Black, Sold

[raygreenwood]

Solid lifter of course right.....from what I can tell?

Not sure. I have never seen on breal like that.....but you have the machined oil groove and the drilled oil hole......and its a hardened part.....so maybe the odd rare stress crack that was there since the lifter was new.....and finally gave out.

Let us know how the others look....and also post a link to this thread on the type forum in the shoptalk forums. More overall type 4 experience there. Ray

[Lars S]