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MG TD TF 1500 - Valve springs/cover.

Since having an engine rebuild (XPEG), the valve springs seem to be rubbing the inside of the valve cover (aluminum, ribbed style). The cover is seated correctly ~ are various diameter springs available? Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.
Steve Gee

Steve please see my thread below "Valve Springs for Roller Lifters". It is unclear whether your rebuild involved a high lift cam & roller lifters. In any event the springs I've used will solve your problem however they do apply a higher pressure to the cam. This is necessary if using roller lifters. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Hi Steve,
first make sure the clamping studs are straight.I have had to relieve the castings on a few ally covers even with the original springs.
I have a Toulmin cover from the 60's and if not in the right place it rings like a bell.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Thanks, good thoughts.
Regular tappets ~ roller cam on the wish list. Valve cover is tight against the cylinder head nuts on the side rubbing. Strange, seems to be a recent development.

Steve Gee

Higher pressure springs would be detrimental to both the cam and the lifters with a standard conventional camshaft. Blewey!
David
D. Sander

Hi again Steve,
my cover is also relieved where it fits against the cyl head nuts.
If your nuts were originally aligned parallel with the cover and now 30 degs different it would move the cover 1/32 or so over.
As there is very little clearance this could cause your
interference.
Ray
Ray Lee

Steve,
Aluminum "Coffin" covers have a habit of seeking out valve springs/retainers. A bit of grinding where they are scraping may suffice, but might not completely eliminate it if it gets shoved closer to the valves.

If more clearance is required, the two holes for the studs can be elongated with a die grinder to move it over farther.

Not a serious issue.
JRN JIM

They certainly would David!
P Hehir

Steve,
Did you figure it out? I once overtightened the valve cover and had a similar problem. Backing off the nuts fixed it. I suppose the same could happen if your new gasket was thinner than "stock".

Blair
Blair Weiss

Not sure yet ~ my season starts today after yesterday in the garage with the usual spring tinkering. Installed a thicker gasket, made sure the cover is over to its utmost and gave the clamping nuts a nudge. It does seem to me that the valve spring retaining washers are larger than necessary ~ I’ll check further if the issue is not resolved.
Thanks. I’m always very impressed with this community and the conversations back and forth ~ brilliant.
Steve Gee

This thread was discussed between 29/04/2014 and 12/05/2014

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