Date:         Mon, 10 Jun 2013 01:02:51 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: push rod tube seals
Comments: To: MICHAEL H <vwdash80@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <1370836638.11978.YahooMailNeo@web122305.mail.ne1.yahoo.com >
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 11:57 PM 6/9/2013, MICHAEL H wrote:
>85, 1.9l - has a replacement collapsible push rod tube in re-usable
>condition. the seals need to be replaced as the block end is
>leaking. looks like a simple procedure via Bentley. meanwhile, in
>the real world that doesn't include MTV, somebody knows the skinny
>to make this go like stuff through a goose in berry season.
>suggested things to be aware of and or avoid would be greatly
>appreciated.      mike - on the road of life one learning curve
>after another     =(:D)

When you're replacing the rocker arms you have four push rods to keep
track of whilst offering up the rocker arm assembly to the head.  For
each push rod you have to get slight pressure on it then lift the
inner end so you can feel it slide over the lip of the hydraulic
lifter into the central depression.

Take all the time and retries you need to be confident that all four
push rods remain seated until you get to the point where the
available slack on each rocker arm is smaller than the distance the
push rod has to back off to fall out of the lifter (might be an
eighth of an inch?).  With a light touch you can lift the push rod
slightly and feel it move freely within the lifter cavity, a
noticeably different feeling than when it's trapped against the
lifter edge.  If you have good hands you'll be able to feel this
stuff out easily.

I think newer adjusting screws are built with a smaller end that
doesn't overlap the valve stem, so that when they get pounded they
won't develop unevenness across their faces.  I think newer rocker
arms also have a small internal oil passage that oozes oil to
lubricate the screw/valve stem contact faces.  That is to say my '84
1.9l had neither of these things, and I've seen more recent ones with
both.  My guess would be it's a 1.9/2.1l changeover.

Yours,
David