Grinding Tappets ( Cam followers )1935-1947 6 and 8 Hudson engines.

Henk_Brough

From Barry Sweetman ( he has the idea from Geoff Clark )I have got the idea to use the pinhole from an old piston ( same diameter ) for grinding the surface from the tappets or cam followers.
I take of the underside of the skirt. ( laid )
I drilled a hole in the thick alloy fixing of the piston pin, and tapped M6
in it. With a small inside hexagonal grub screw I can fix the cam follower
in the pin hole from the piston. It cannot move now and with a very simple
grinding machine with sand paper you can grind to a new state.
This small grinding machines you can buy in Holland for less than $ 100,-.
Important is that the “ table “ with the old piston on it, is exact 90º with the disk with the sandpaper.
Also the tappet adjustment bolt can be grind as you can see on one of the photo’s.

Photo 1 : Old and “ new ” State of the tappets.

Photo 2 : Original and Turn off piston

Photo 3 : Grub screw fixing. Perhaps it is better to turn a little less
From the skirt to have a little more room for the Grubscrew.

Photo 4 : Piston with the tappet on the small grinding ( sandpaper disk )
Machine. This type of machine you can use for a lot of
treatments.

Photo 5 : With a small piece of round bar it is very simple to grind the
Tappet adjusting bolt.

In the past so many Hudson enthusiasts’ has helped me with all sort of problems that I hope my small contribution can help someone else.
All the best from the Netherlands ( Holland )

Henk ten Ham

hudsonsplasher1

Thanks for the great ideas. Much appreciated.
Gene Birdsall

hudsonsplasher1

Thanks for the great ideas. Much appreciated.
Gene Birdsall

bob ward

That's interesting thanks. Do the followers and adjuster bolts need to be re-hardened after grinding?

Huddy42

No Bob, not at all, done dozens of them over the years.

barrysweet52

If done in a lathe chuck with some sort of grinder in the tool post, the curve on the follower would be perfect and smoother which means less wear on the camshaft. I think this is what was originally suggested. Barry

[Deleted User]

If you flatten out the radius to 4" you can pick up some duration in the cam timing and a bit more horsepower.