What should one look at or feel for when checking out the condition of an older roller lifter ?
G

Clean and dry. roll on a smooth surface with hand pressure. They should roll smooth. Measure across the axle to make sure its not spread. Ideally measuring vertical roller wheel travel to ,000x" would be good.
Doug

Thanks Doug
Would clean and dry mean soaked in solvent or lacquer thinner to get the oil out and blow dry?
Not sure I’m following re the measurements. Do you mean measure the width of the wheels to see if something is mushrooming ?
Or just check the clearance between the roller and lifter body?
G

This is the best I could do to check it.

that indicator check isn't going to help if the axle is worn

Clean and dry thoroughly as already pointed out then push the wheels across your palm several times both ways to see if the roller wheel moves on the axle up or down or sideways and to see if there are any worn or damaged needles on the axle. If there are problems with the needles and wheels you will feel them
What brand and how much use on them?

I'd move the indicator 90 degrees to check the axle. But you need an indicator that measures in ,000x". Still tough to get an accurate reading without a fixture. The width measurement is the body itself. Measure the body parallel to the axle with a mic.
Doug

Cab thanks . I don’t know the answer to either q
Doug thanks understood

Testing OEM applications we check lash with a .0001" resolution dial indicator WHEN NEW. typically they'll have about .0003/4 NEW then they'll settle quickly another .0002 for a total of .0006ish WHEN the lash grows again THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO FAILING. Some may start out .0005 to .0006 and settle. We also check them via rolling as described here. The key is to check them new. We even have had an occasional lifter SETTLE about .0011" but again typically the 'wear-in' is typically about .0002" form as measured new.

I found out Comp no longer rebuilds their lifters just fyi.

While most may not be able to measure to OEM specs I would say some info is better than none.Thank you for your info to guide us.

The only difference in the way you are measuring is the resolution of the indicator. Plenty of .0001" indicators out there cheap enough.

They will still rebuild them until they run out of parts. A couple of weeks ago they still had some parts available.

Thanks for all the great info. Got them out and soaking in solvent. Will start looking them over next week.

The lifters I bought from you are there now. The will rebuild 829's, no problem. This is my second set in a month.

I was just repeating what Dallas from Comp told me on rebuilding the lifters on the phone

If they are old and used my inspection usually consists of taking them out, looking at them and throwing them in the trash.

Anyone who has had a lifter come apart and destroy and engine knows what I am talking about.

Old and used is kinda vague.lol

The most important tip is to watch lash and keep records. I track each lifters lash. If one starts to consistently gain lash it's time to look. In 630 passes I've had 2 that gained lash and were caught before any damage occurred. A few years ago at Norwalk I saw a BB Chevy torn apart. Asking what happened he replied "broke a lifter" I asked how many passes and were there any signs leading up to it. He had no idea how many passes. Said that the failed lifter had gained .010" lash 3 times at checks, so he tightened it up.
Doug

I don’t know the brand but these lifters have a small clip in the axel bore on each side . Should I try to take one apart or am I looking for trouble? does it identify it as a brand ? Or as rebuildable?
Thanks G