Author Topic: Changing tappets on a 8v  (Read 4718 times)

Offline Daston

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Re: Changing tappets on a 8v
« Reply #20 on: 11 May 2009, 18:45 »
Yey managed to leaver it off.

However I think I have found the problem and it could possibly be the reason for the tapping noise.

It looks like I am missing a camshaft bearing cap, however instead of just being missing it seems to have snapped off at some point!

Any thoughts? I am guessing either new top end time or new engine...














Offline danny_p

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Re: Changing tappets on a 8v
« Reply #21 on: 11 May 2009, 19:00 »
read the f**king manual

it's meant to be like that
all the VW's have gone bar 1.

Offline Daston

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Re: Changing tappets on a 8v
« Reply #22 on: 11 May 2009, 19:04 »
ahhh an RTFM moment? Whats with the spare holes in the cover? Plus in my defence the drawings (if they can be called that) in the haynes manual are pretty crap lol

Offline Daston

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Re: Changing tappets on a 8v
« Reply #23 on: 11 May 2009, 19:06 »
Just looked at bens guide.........move along nothing to see here

Offline danny_p

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Re: Changing tappets on a 8v
« Reply #24 on: 12 May 2009, 00:24 »
with cambelts, they can be released and re tensioned no problem and dose not affect belt life.  but beware if you take the belt off once a belt has been run and beded into the pullys if it is taken off it must be put back on so the belt is traveling the same direction,  draw an arrow on the belt.  flip a used belt round and put it on it wont stay on very long but fo rthe sub £10 ness they normaly get an early cam belt change
all the VW's have gone bar 1.

Offline Daston

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Re: Changing tappets on a 8v
« Reply #25 on: 12 May 2009, 08:24 »
Sorry guys another question. Reading in the haynes manual it says that the campulley has a marking for TDC. I can see the marking fine, however it tells me to line that up with a hole in the timing belt cover. I dont have a timing belt cover so how do I know what is TDC?

Offline Ben Lessani

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Re: Changing tappets on a 8v
« Reply #26 on: 12 May 2009, 09:07 »
Leave the cambelt on, remove the spark plug on cyl. 1, put your thumb over the hole and turn the crank until you feel pressure (don't forget the piston can rise on the exhaust stroke), stick a *long* straw in the hole, turn the crank (clockwise) until the straw hits its peak.

Not 100% accurate, but it will let you know roughly where TDC is and hopefully line up some other markings for you.

TDC is meant to be stamped on the flywheel, but this relies on the flywheel never having been changed. It can be spotted through the inspection cover in the bell housing.

But TBH, you don't need to set the engine to TDC when changing tappets. Just mark the crank in relation to the block and aux shaft, the cam in relation to the head and mark the belt in relation to the cam, aux and crank pulleys (obv. with distinctive marks). Then just line up the marks when you put it back together. Plus, it will also ensure the belt goes on the same way round ;)
« Last Edit: 12 May 2009, 09:10 by Ben Lessani »

Offline Daston

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Re: Changing tappets on a 8v
« Reply #27 on: 12 May 2009, 19:25 »
Cheers for all the help :) Managed to get the cam out and new tappets in. Replaced camshaft and bolted it down (that was harder than I expected). Belt is back on and all lined up, however I seem to have a lot of slack on the right side of the belt. I can not seem to get the tensioner pulley across to the right anymore and the belt if very tight from the crank to the tensioner. Any ideas? Could the belt have stretched at all?

Offline danny_p

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Re: Changing tappets on a 8v
« Reply #28 on: 12 May 2009, 19:33 »
cambelts don't strech, they only snap
all the VW's have gone bar 1.

Offline Steve_B

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Re: Changing tappets on a 8v
« Reply #29 on: 12 May 2009, 19:41 »
There should be just enough slack to twist the belt through 90 degrees in its longest part. Seemed a bit much to me but that's what the guides said.