Guideline For Reusable Parts And Salvage Operations

Visual Inspection of 6N-6872/7N-4782 Lifter Guide Springs in 3400/3500 Series

Engines

Media Number -SEBF8066-04 Publication Date -30/09/2004 Date Updated -27/10/2004

   
SEBF80660001

Visual Inspection of 6N-6872/7N-4782 Lifter Guide Springs

in 3400/3500 Series Engines

GUIDELINE FOR
REUSABLE PARTS
AND SALVAGE OPERATIONS

  CAT®
 

 SEBF8066-04
Visual Inspection of 6N-6872/7N-4782 Lifter
SMCS Code: 1209
Guide Springs in 3400/3500 Series Engines September
2004
 

Introduction

This guideline is published to enable dealers and customers to benefit from cost reductions made
possible through an established parts reusability program. Every effort has been made to provide
the most current relevant information known to Caterpillar Tractor Co. This guideline must be
used in conjunction with the latest technical information available from Caterpillar to ensure
necessary changes and improvements are incorporated.

This guideline gives the correct procedure to visually inspect used lifter guide springs to see if
they can be used again. When used again the same application, parts that are acceptable
according to the specifications given in this Guideline can be expected to give normal
performance until the next overhaul.

Until now, in most service literature (including the Service Manual for 3400 Engines), the
recommendation was to install a new lifter guide spring on the valve lifter any time the lifters
were removed. The basis for this recommendation was the 4N-6142 Lifter Guide Spring, which
is no longer current. Its replacement is the 6N-6872 Lifter Guide Spring. The basis for the "use
again" recommendations given in this Guideline is the current, 6N6872 Lifter Guide Spring.
There are two types of 6N-6872 springs, as shown in Illustration 1.

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Illustration 1

1.      The 4N-6142 Lifter Guide Spring (left) is no longer current. There are two types of the
current 6N-6872 Lifter Guide Spring available (middle and right).

NOTE:  Never use a 4N-6142 Lifter Guide Spring again.

Illustrations 2 through 5 show types of wear common to 6N-6872 Lifter Guide Springs. Never
use a spring again if it shows any signs of nicks, cracks, pitting, corrosion, if it is bent, if any
area of it is flat or if either the lifter or camshaft has any unusual (not common) wear.

 
 

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Illustration 2

2. Wear is normal and acceptable at these locations.

Use again

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Illustration 3

3. This type of wear is permissible.

Use again

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Illustration 4

4. Wear which runs along the outside circumference of the spring (and which connects all three
normal wear locations as shown in Illustration 2) is not acceptable.

Do not use again

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Illustration 5

5. This spring shows signs of metal that has moved, possibly because of smearing, fretting or
scuffing.

Do not use again

 

Inspecting for Wear

Illustrations 6 through 10 show types of wear common to 7N-4782 Lifter Guide Springs. Never
reuse a spring showing signs of nicks, cracks, pitting, or corrosion. Never reuse a spring that is
bent or has a flat area. Never reuse a spring if either the lifter or camshaft has any unusual (not
common) wear.

View Image

Illustration 6

Wear is normal and acceptable at these three locations.

Use again

View Image

Illustration 7

This type of wear is permissible.

Use again

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Illustration 8

This wear is normal and acceptable.

Use again

View Image

Illustration 9

Wear is not acceptable which runs along the outside circumference of the spring (and which
connects all three normal wear locations shown in Illustration 6).

Do not use again

View Image
Illustration 10

This spring shows signs of metal that has moved. These signs can be due to smearing, fretting, or
scuffing.

Do not use again

Correct Installation of a Valve Lifter

View Image

Illustration 11

Nomenclature and location of components.

(1) Camshaft.
(2) Lifter assembly.
(3) Spring.
(4) Rod.
(5) Adjustment screw.
(6) Rocker arm.

NOTICE

Valve failures are possible if the valve lifters are

incorrectly installed in the cylinder head.

During assembly, the springs can be pushed too

deeply into the head if, the lifter assemblies are
pushed all the way into the cylinder head or the
cylinder head is put down on the lifter
assemblies.

As a result of incorrect installation, the springs

will not permit the lifter assemblies to contact
the camshaft. The springs are very strong.
Therefore, service personnel can adjust the
valve lash and not know that the lifter
assemblies are not against the camshaft. When
the engine is started, the springs will move
downward. As a result, the valve lash
adjustment will change, and valve failures are
possible.

To prevent the problems stated in the above NOTICE, refer to the following steps.

2.      Do not put the head down on the lifter assemblies.

3.      After the installation of the head and rocker arm assemblies, push down on each rocker
assembly and tap the adjustment screw with a plastic hammer. This will force the components
against each other.

Note:  If the cam is in the position shown in Illustration 11, tapping on the adjusting screw will
not properly seat the spring. The lifter must be on the base circle of the camshaft to be properly
seated.

After Step 2 is completed, the service manual procedure must be used to adjust the valve lash.
 

Notes…
 
 
 

 
 

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