3.7 mercruiser collapsing tool

[ericcarr2000]

Ok. Im starting a new thread to let you know where I am with regards to my 3.7 ticking noise. I went out today to "try" the lifter collapsing tool and I cant begin to tell you how reluctant I am to even try to put the full amount of pressure on them to be able to collapse the lifter. I had the tool on the rocker arm and applied pressure to collapse it. I was so afraid I was going to either break/bend the tool or even bend a push rod. I was pulling with both arms and the thing wasn't even budging. So this leads me to this. Im pretty sure I do have something going on with my valve train because when I had it to TDC and was rechecking the torque on the rocker arms, I noticed that a couple of the rocker arms you could take and slightly wiggle them from side to side, not all of them just a few. I did notice when I took the rocker arms off that the engine builder installed shims under each rocker arm. I guess my next question is im assuming to bypass that ridiculous collapsing tool I could take the lifters back out and take them apart to get rid of all the oil in them and than re-install them so I could bleed them down that way....:joyous:

 

[Don S]

Re: 3.7 mercruiser collapsing tool

The lifter itself is only going to collaps about an 18" ?, so don't expect the tool to move a lot.
Use slow steady pressure, not a quick movement to collapse it. When you do apply pressure, start light and add more, but don't go crazy with forcing it. It doesn't take that much pressure. Watch and feel, you will feel it move.

 

[artificialreef]

Re: 3.7 mercruiser collapsing tool

Read the manual on this. There is a sequence of rockers to do at tdc intake on some cylinders and exhaust on others. Then you rotate and check the remaining. There will be wiggle on the rockers. Just use the feeler gauge. I did not have any shims under my rockers. Dont know what to make of that.