I think I may have mixed up my camshaft followers or whatever they are called

Tiny
MASTERLOWPRO
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 2.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 300,000 MILES
I have done everything in this build before but I've never encountered this issue.. But when my camshaft is installed one of my valves doesn't seat or seal. However, when the camshaft is not in the head the valves seat perfectly I tested with seafoam and the seal was true. I didn't think I mixed up my followers but I don't know. I have never done that before. Is there a difference? I have done more rebuilds than I can count for friends and family as a side business for 13 years and never seen this before. No formal education at all. Just learned from pops.
Sunday, December 1st, 2019 AT 7:45 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

Were the followers replaced (new)? That doesn't make sense. Something it causing an issue with clearance. Are the valves new? Are the valve springs on in the correct direction?

Let me know.

Joe
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 6:22 PM
Tiny
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The following is both thinking aloud and asking for confirmation/correction. Thank you so much for help. I've never done this part before

Okay, so I have 4 buckets that need to be switched around. They are not new. My roommate knocked them over so I have been informed and he just put them back however he felt. When the camshaft is installed properly the valves don't close when they should be all the way closed. This means there is no clearance between lobe, in any position, and bucket. The buckets are the style with a small hole on the side that squirts oil if you squeeze them. The springs and valves DID NOT leave the head during this process. Things were cleaned but not removed besides the buckets and cams. I spent the last of my money on a feeler gauge and just need the most basic instructions on how to get it set up right so my valves seat once again.

PS. All the valves seated properly when this job started and the compression was fine and that's all I am trying to get back.

Legacy Outback AWD 2.5 DOHC
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Monday, December 2nd, 2019 AT 9:08 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

The only thing it can be then is the followers are worn differently, not allowing clearance for the valve to be closed.

Take a look through this. It describes how to adjust valves. It shows how to mic thickness. I suspect when the followers were mixed up, it caused this issue. The attached pics correlate with the directions.

_______________________________________

2006 Subaru Outback F4-2.5L DOHC Turbo
Adjustments
Vehicle Powertrain Management Tune-up and Engine Performance Checks Valve Clearance Adjustments
ADJUSTMENTS
ADJUSTMENT

CAUTION: Adjustment of valve clearance should be performed while engine is cold.

Pic 1

1. Measure all valve clearances.

NOTE: Record each valve clearance after it has been measured.

2. Remove the camshaft.
3. Remove the valve lifter.

Pic 2

4. Measure the thickness of valve lifter with a micrometer.

Pic 3

pic 4

pic 5

5. Select a valve lifter of suitable thickness based on the measured valve clearance and valve lifter thickness, by referring to the following table.
6. Inspect all valves for clearance again at this stage. If the valve clearance is not correct, repeat the procedure over again from the first step.
7. After inspection, install the related parts in the reverse order of removal.

____________________

Let me know if that helps.
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Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019 AT 5:31 PM
Tiny
MASTERLOWPRO
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So the HLA's on this model are hydraulic. They adjust as needed when pressure is applied. The buckets as they were have a hydraulic piston inside with a variable pressure lift. By design they should always settle to however they can to eliminate pressure on the piston that actually sits on the top of the valve. I learned a lot from some guy who drove by one day talking about "how I bought one of these fresh from the show room in the 1990's" blah blah blah. I explained the situation and he schooled the shit out of me on this. Measuring tells nothing because after you run it they settle. He told me its totally normal for them to have a gap of the thickness of a piece of paper when you first rebuild. Subaru did this on only 1 model of engine I am the 1990's and nobody talks/knows about it online. Thank you again man.
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Wednesday, December 4th, 2019 AT 7:36 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

If it's normal for them to have clearance, how is the cam causing the valve to open when it's not on the lobe? Did he explain a cause for that?
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019 AT 8:17 PM

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