Pertronix - Pros & Cons - Video & Pics

[Rob_Edwards]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

[ QUOTE ]
Factory suggested replacing all bearings every 50,000 miles anyway.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not that I doubt you Tony, but as often as I've seen that quoted, I've never been able to find that recommendation in Bentley. Was it in a service bulletin or something?

Cheers!

 

[vping]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

The saga continues. I pull the valve cover & find that the rocker has worked it's way off of the push rod. No problem. I'll just put it back on. I pulled the push rod out to make sure that it was all the way down and it stuck to the lifter. PLINK! it fell back in the engine and rod won't go back in. I was this close to solving the problem and now this. How can I get the lifter back in place, HMMMM?

 

[tony barnhill]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

Bentley doesn't say it - it was in a message to dealers...now, I don't know if it really needed to be done or if they were just trying to sell engine refreshings! But, I try to do it to all the ones I drive & it seems to keep the engine from wearing unusually...its time to do it for the 2nd time on my '79 that has a little over 100,000 miles....this time I think I'll pull the engine so I can get to the front & rear mains/seals....& I'm gonna do the head also.

 

[vping]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

hmmm

 

[Nunyas]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

You might be able to access the tappets by removing the side covers that are under your exhaust manifold... You might have to remove the manifold to get access to them. It's certainly an easier job to do with the manifolds off. It almost sounds like the tappet wedged itself in there some place and won't let you put the rod back in.

Sorry, I'm not much help with this. I've yet needed to try and replace my tappets or cam shaft. Best of luck to ye!

 

[jlaird]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

Oh please let that engine have side covers.

Now for the question. Had you ever adjusted the valves? Guess you will now. Boy that must have been one loose rocker and did it not make lots of noise running?

 

[tony barnhill]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

Its an MGB - it has side covers.

 

[jlaird]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

Whoh. I just didn't know and could just see the problems.

 

[vping]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

OK! TERRIFIC!

Lesson # 138 in the art of having an LBC ready to commence SIR!

Air cleaners off
Carbs off
Heat Shield off
Manifold off
Side cover off
Lifter in
Push Rod in
Rocker back in place.

SIR YES SIR!

Question is how did the rocker come off? This I cannot figure out.
Ponder this while I go put is all back together. When I get back I want an answer and then I'll go out and adjust the valves again!

Jeese this all started with Pertronix and has turned into an eventfull lesson.

 

[tony barnhill]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

[ QUOTE ]
Question is how did the rocker come off?

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You mean the rocker assembly? There are nuts on studs going through the pedestals.

 

[vping]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

The rocker arm shifted towards the rear of the engine and the adjusting pin was not seated in the top of the pushrod. The edge of the rocker arm was dpressing the push rod just enough to give intermitent psi readings from the #3cyl. I just can't imagine how it jumped out of the pocket the is at the top of the pushrod.

 

[tony barnhill]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

I've had that happen before - push rod jumping out from under the rocker...check to see if you bent the pushrod...then check your rocker assembly to see what failed to allow the rocker to 'wobble' so much that the pushrod leaped free.

 

[Nunyas]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

worn rocker arm or shaft or both maybe? I replaced/rebuilt my rocker assy with used parts, using the best of what I had and the best of the used bits to build a better than what I had rocker assy. it made the valve train more quiet, and got rid of 90% of the rocker slop i had in my old rocker assy.

I'm interested in what these rocker bits look like... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[vping]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

[ QUOTE ]
I've had that happen before - push rod jumping out from under the rocker...check to see if you bent the pushrod...then check your rocker assembly to see what failed to allow the rocker to 'wobble' so much that the pushrod leaped free.

[/ QUOTE ]

Pushrod is fine I checked the center by rolling it and then watched the ends for wobble. Twas fine.
The problem is what to look for on the rocker that would make it fail.

 

[tony barnhill]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

Spring, roll pin...

 

[jlaird]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

I asked about the rocker arm. How did the rod come off. Something is wrong someplace in the rocker assy I should think. He said the pushrod was OK. Wonder if the rocker assy is attached properly? Head has been off. Gesh, who knows without looking.

 

[jsneddon]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

HAH! You are one lucky guy! I told you you might find something goofy when you pulled off the valve cover /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Glad to see it isn't a valve.

Still want to get that Petronix ??? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

 

[vping]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

We'll see. I still need to get it back running but while it's apart I'm doing a bunch of cleaning. Can't help it. The manifold was black and inside was coated in a red/brown resin, probably from years of bad gas. Here are a few before photos. I am feeling rather lucky to some degree.

 

[tony barnhill]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

How badly did it damage that lifter?

& can you get a closeup shot of the rocker in question?

 

[jlaird]

Re: Petronix - Pros & Cons

Hit the outside of that intake manifold with a wire wheel and make it kind of match those nice carbs.

Agree with Tony, is the rocker arm ok? Something had to let that thing get loose.