Top end tapping - still

[dxke38]

Many years ago I had a slight tapping noise from the head on my 3.8 ser 1. I eventually stripped the head completely and the only thing I found wrong was that one of the smaller inner valve springs was broken. I think this was allowing the valve to bounce and therefore tap. New spring fitted, no more tap.

[keithmac]

Hell Pete,
You have described in your initial post the sound from my newly rebuilt head/engine. Quiet when cold, yet within a short time the tapping starts. It appears to come from the number 2or 3 intake valve area. It is audible up to around 80kmph when the wind noise drowns it out. Not always consistent volume but always there. Please let us know what you find out as I have already had the head off again and into the shop to no avail.
Regards,
Keith

[peters3103]

Hi Keith,
How very frustrating! I hope that there’s something obvious with mine as I would, like you, be very disappointed if I still have a noise after a head rebuild. As I said I won’t be doing mine immediately but will certainly post my findings and result. (How often do you read a long post, on a forum, only to find no solution or outcome!)

Cheers
Pete

[Tarapoochy]

Like this one

[politeperson]

I once had a bit of a rattle going on in the head on a new engine.
After 3 or 4 miles, I took off the cam covers to find zero oil in the inlet side.
If it had been on the exhaust side, I could have seen it though the filler cap.
The feed pipe had been squashed against the bulkhead when the engine was going in. Very easy to do.
New pipe and the noise went away. Luckily no damage done. I think Chris Rooke had a similar experience with a bit of cloth blocking the oil inlet which wrecked one or two sets of valve gear.