In East Germany CARL ZEISS used to grind & polish flat tappet lifters for soviet and czech V8 engines. Pretty much the same machines that made lenses for telescopes and binoculars.
Roller motors had issues too. LS and Hemi had issues. We've found that it boils down to the oil because the ones that died were service vehicles with high idle hours. The only thing to focus on is adding a paint mark on the top to verify all lifters have rotation when rolled over on assembly and then additive additive additive. Thanks for the video.
Add enough additive, and you'll screw shit up too!! Lifters don't have to spin to be successful, many diesel engines have perfectly flat cam lobes and flat lifter bottoms, and last for years!
Incorrect.....flat tappet lifters have to rotate. Yes, agreed....only add ONE bottle of additive. Too much will primarily mess up VVT. Look at a flat tappet camshaft very closely and you'll see that the lobe has a side taper. If a flat tappet lifter doesn't rotate you'll end up with a notch ground into your lifter that matches the profile of your lobe.
Most hardening has a deep enough layer it can withstand a fair amount of material removal. Maybe best bet is to hardness check before refacing? Maybe John can verify the floor for candidates.
Very nice process John.
Thanks for sharing.
Take care, Ed.
In East Germany CARL ZEISS used to grind & polish flat tappet lifters for soviet and czech V8 engines. Pretty much the same machines that made lenses for telescopes and binoculars.
You did a set of lifters for me for a 1958 Ferguson Tractor with a Standard Diesel. Running again
Roller motors had issues too. LS and Hemi had issues. We've found that it boils down to the oil because the ones that died were service vehicles with high idle hours. The only thing to focus on is adding a paint mark on the top to verify all lifters have rotation when rolled over on assembly and then additive additive additive. Thanks for the video.
Add enough additive, and you'll screw shit up too!! Lifters don't have to spin to be successful, many diesel engines have perfectly flat cam lobes and flat lifter bottoms, and last for years!
Incorrect.....flat tappet lifters have to rotate. Yes, agreed....only add ONE bottle of additive. Too much will primarily mess up VVT. Look at a flat tappet camshaft very closely and you'll see that the lobe has a side taper. If a flat tappet lifter doesn't rotate you'll end up with a notch ground into your lifter that matches the profile of your lobe.
Thanks guys . I always get a good cam from yah.
Is there a surface hardening that has to be redone if you regrind the lifters?
Most hardening has a deep enough layer it can withstand a fair amount of material removal. Maybe best bet is to hardness check before refacing? Maybe John can verify the floor for candidates.
I have some old used lifters I would like to get reground. Where do I send them? Do you repair cams?
Have you ever checked the surface of the finish ground lifter and the finished tumbled lifters using a profilometer?