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Sticky Valve/guide/ spring question 100

healeynut

Jedi Knight
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Hi -

The head and motor for my A90 is running and back together. The motor is identical to the BN1 and BN2 except it only uses one valve spring.

Anyway, we replaced the inlet valves while it was all apart but the guides were fine. Put it all back together with the only change putting top hat seals on the valve. We replaced the exhaust guides & valves and have no problems with them.

The problem: the car runs fine and warms up fine, but after running, stop the engine, then let the whole business cool down, the inlet valves will stick open (we think only the ones that are down when the engine is switched off). A little tapping with a mallot or pulling with pliers and they are free.

Is it being caused by:

1) The top hat seals not allowing enough lubrication? Shall I remove them and just use the o rings?

2) The old single valve springs aren't strong enough shall I put 3000 double valve springs on them?

3) Should I replace the inlet guides too (I'd rather not take the head off again). The inlet guides look like steel but maybe the PO put annoying bronze ones on there? Ideas?

Help!
 
The bleeding obvious first; are the stems old/new same diam?
 

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Alan,

I just recently had a similar issue and we resolved a few things....


Re-reamed the guides
Went to O-Rings only

Seemed that the shop I had used Steel guides and reamed them to the correct spec. What they forgot to do is measure the valves and see is they were within spec - they were not...

You should have an outside and an inside spring for sure, that could be one issue.


Good luck
Michael
 
yes they are.

I am thinking that I rebuilt the rocker arm, and then put top hat seals on the valves... which means possibly the valves aren't getting enough lubrication now, and seizing when cold.

I am going to try removing the top hats first and see if that fixes it.

Alan
 
Steel or bronze valve guides in iron heads react differently than cast iron guides in iron heads & should be fitted more loosely. Correctly clearanced guides should work perfectly well with positive seals.
D
 
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