Adjustable lifters keep backing off - what do u do?

I have lash caps on a 65 Galaxie 445 stroker FE daily driver with Edlebrock heads. Probably close to 10K miles and no problems at all. They snap on to the valve stem and just be sure they don't hit the valve locks. Come in several sizes. The only thing I see that would be different on a flathead is they would be upside down as compared to an OHV installation.
 
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With respect to "butt-grinding" the stems to set the clearance (lash) most valve grinders have the attachment to get this done. I'm certain any shop could finish-size them (lengthwise) once you have all the measurements established. If your numbers are correct it should be fairly straight-forward.

I've mentioned using the lash caps for some time now, the real "positive" using this method (where longer valves may work better) is the fact there is no adverse effect on the spring/retainer/lock setup! We've been using lash caps for over 40 years now on the Flathead platform. Not one single issue ever. Basically they add around .080" to the valve length without affecting the final spring height dimensions.

(Add) We also haven't had a single adjuster "loosen" on any build here, but we still use nothing but the original "Johnson" tappets!

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. Here's a shot of some 1929 Chev valves being done on the stem ends, not so much for size (length) on this application but to make certain all is "square" on the tops.
 

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Gary, can you give us (me) some details on who makes / sells the "original" Johnson ones.
Has anyone had trouble with the "Sealed power" ones?
 
Ronnie said:
Here u go

http://www.toplineauto.com/index.asp

http://www.toplineauto.com/about-us.asp

http://hylift-johnson.com/our-company/

Find out who sells their product. They bought the Johnson plant and even hired some of the old employee's.

R
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Above here is where we buy the lifters, I'm not sure you can buy direct however!! Possibly, but not really sure?

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. I can tell you when we make this lifter purchase we buy a "tray" at a time to help offset some costs. I believe for the Flatheads there are 96 lifters to one tray, on the Chev's/Pontiac's, etc. we buy 128 lifters at a clip!
 
Buying direct isn't the issue you just have to see who sells their product.There will be jobbers that carry the product,you just need to source them out.I agree buying direct as a non machine shop isn't going to fly.

You could sell them to members here.I only posted the info to kill some of the internet old wives tale about some products. You have seen many posts when you read them that you know damn well the poster hasn't a clue as to what way is really up.
On another note have you used topline adjustables from them?
Keep up the informative posts,I enjoy reading your posts.

R
 
So Ronnie, the sealed power ones I bought from ebay about 18 months ago are 'one and the same' or have I mis-understood something?
 
Sealed power at one point in time bought the Johnson plant and then after a period of time it was partially run into the ground and sold off.I can't tell you what you have it may be early ones that were made in the early Sealed Power days after the purchase.. Most of the sealed power lifters were sold for 8n 9n ford tractors as adjustable ones.
With a picture Go Fast could also shed some light on this. What does the packaging look like. There is a fair chance that you have early ones.All of this happened before the remains of the production was moved to Mexico and things went in the toilet.

This page kinda sheds some info on what happened to the lifter production. http://hylift-johnson.com/our-company/

R
 
im no expert on engines but in Vern Tardel and Mike Bishops book: how to build and modify Flatheads, they say to remove the adjusting screws with low turning resistance from the lifters and give them a little squeeze end to end in a vise. I'd post a pic but dont have written permission :rolleyes:
highly recommend the book by the way..
 
I have a blown 286" flathead with a Potvin super 3/4 cam. I bought adjustable lifters from flathead Jack (not a memorable experience) which were produced in Australia. I now have 25,000 miles on the engine and have checked the clearance 2 times, once at 10,000 miles and second time this summer at about 22,000. The clearances were never out by more than 2 thou on maybe 4 or 5 of the lifters. I spin the engine to 6000 rpm regularly. The engine was built 11 years ago but I do not know the name of the Australian adj. lifters..
 
I bought a set of the recent Sealed Power lifters, but haven't used them yet. I got them on a closeout from Rock Auto for $100. They are heavy, but appear to be quality lifters, and the box claims each batch is tested for Rockwell hardness (can't remember the spec).
 
The ones I bought are hollow, weigh 79 grams each, and came from seller "Clewwho40" who seems to have them listed all the time.
He has 11826 sales recorded with 99.5% positive feedback.

The brand is listed as "SCE 501" and the Manufacturers part number is "53-2032"
Can anyone decipher this info?
 
Don't you just love working on flatheads, no matter what you do, your either right or wrong. confusing isn't it.
 
Ross F-1 said:
I believe those were FlatAttack lifters?
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If they have the big threaded adjuster nut, probably so. I believe they are steel and not chilled iron. The only reason I bring this up is that if they are steel, you don't want to run them on a steel billet core (like an original 32 core), as they may gall.

Note: This isn't something that I've actually done with these lifters - but something to check into if you are planning too!
 
Bluebell said:
The ones I bought are hollow, weigh 79 grams each, and came from seller "Clewwho40" who seems to have them listed all the time.
He has 11826 sales recorded with 99.5% positive feedback.

The brand is listed as "SCE 501" and the Manufacturers part number is "53-2032"
Can anyone decipher this info?
Click to expand...

That's what I've been running for about 5 years now. He claimed (at the time I bought them) that they were "brand new NOS, original Johnson lifters". They came in a Johnson box, certainly appeared to be brand new, and included the original (crappy) Johnson wrenches. I've had no problems with them, and although a couple are not "real" tight, they have held clearances. Very suspicious that he seems to have a never-ending supply of them...
 
Ross F-1 said:
That's what I've been running for about 5 years now. He claimed (at the time I bought them) that they were "brand new NOS, original Johnson lifters". They came in a Johnson box, certainly appeared to be brand new, and included the original (crappy) Johnson wrenches. I've had no problems with them, and although a couple are not "real" tight, they have held clearances. Very suspicious that he seems to have a never-ending supply of them...
Click to expand...

Maybe these lifters are some of the ones referred to in post #65, the Hylift/Johnson website. Seems a bunch of lifters, etc. evaporated from company premises while a shyster/crook was running it (who is now in prison).
 
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