1.5 Roller tip Rockers Strange sound?!?!
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi Guys, I am new to this and I hope that someone on here can help me.

I have got a 1989 Mini 30 with a metro turbo engine, Phase 2 cam (I think), and 1.5 roller tip rockers.

The problem started when I fitted the rockers yesterday.
The car runs fine, drives well, but I have got an odd sound from the tappets. If it was constant I would be pretty sure that it was the clearances, but it's not. Instead, at totally random intervalls, it starts making an ascending tapping sound. It does it on idle and all the way through the revs in all gears.

Could this still be a clearence problem? Any suggestions?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Gary

In the 13's at last!.. Just

Have you checked and rechecked the clearances?

What cam is installed in the engine? Have you checked the valve springs for coil binding at full lift?

The cam is an Avonbar Phase 2.

I dont think that it's the springs as when I replace the original rockers the problem is resolved.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

it wont be this if its intermitant, but what rocker cover are you using, some have very poor clearance for 1.5's and knock one them

the pressed steel is the best, or you can try the minispares one, but i found that still needed some relief

It could very well be the springs and not do it with the standard rockers, think about it, the 1.5 ratio rockers by their intent lift the valves higher than the standard 1.3 ratio rockers, hence you could be into problems of coil bind and this could possibly break a valve spring, you need to check this properly.

I think that I have fixed it!

A guy on another forum said that with the cam that I have, and the rockers I need to open the gap to around twice the standard.

I set it to 0.025 and the fault disappeared, but it's a little 'tappety'.

I am going to try 0.023 now.

Any thoughts?

In the 13's at last!.. Just

!!!!! HOW MUCH

try 0.015

Why 0.015? have you done this before?

In the 13's at last!.. Just

phase 2 cam AND 1.5 rockers will NOT work with the standard Rover valve springs.

Pick one - OR - the other. But not both. Simple as.

To confirm the problem, take off the rocker cover, engage 4th, and push the mini forwards/backwards until you get full lift on one valve. I'm pretty sure the spring coils will be contacting each other.

To solve - remove the 1.5's and re-fit standard rockers. If you drive any distance with it as is, you'll end up dropping a valve and totalling your engine and probaly the head aswell.

The long-tem solution is to pull the head, and fit the minispares 180lb hi-lift springs.

Edited by turbodave16v on 23rd Sep, 2006.

yes i used to use 0.015 with the same set up, but do as dave says first

if you look under the rocker pads you will see where they have been catching on the spring caps

as tom and dave says to the word!

Thanks TurboDave!

I have just checked it and yes the springs are 'binding' (coils of the spring are touching each other).

How do the Minispares springs overcome this problem? Do they have less coils or thinner coils?

Or would you reccomend just getting 1.3's?

In the 13's at last!.. Just

And there I was thinking I suggested this yesterday...................

The minispares springs (or other "high lift" springs) have fewer coils per unit length hence avoiding this problem.

Sorry Tom, seem to have missed that one?

In the 13's at last!.. Just

all the rollers i have ever owned have been noiser than standard rockers

I thought another way round it was sinking the spring seats further into the head

Metro turbo weekend driver,Mini turbo in the making again!

Springs is the easiest way to do it IMO. That said - how old is your engine? If it's done over 50k you might want to get the valve-seats re-cut (or unleadedisied if not already) while the head is off...

Incidentally - the minispares ones have a thinner wire, hence can compress further.

it could be the valve springs binding...

LOL

"Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun"

"did you know you can toast potato waffles?"

I wouldn't recommend using 1.5s with the Ph2 either, driveability was very poor when I tried it.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

1.5's may pay off with massive valves, but its unlikly any one will be running valves big enogh in a std casting.