1983 GS1100E - Tappet Bracket Sheared off of Head Below Cam Lobe...

[Phaedrus]

So, pretty much what the title says. One of my tappet brackets sheared clean off of the head, below a camshaft lobe while riding the other day. Thought it was a snapped starter gear at first, but opening up the top end revealed a set of tappets just hanging out inside the head. Could've been worse, I suppose, and simple enough fix. However, what the **** would cause this to happen? I set my valve clearances less than a year ago. Bike fired right up first try, held idle no problem (no signs of tight clearances).



My thought is that the cam rotated, the tappets tried to press the valves down, but met too much resistance and snapped?... What should I be checking (besides clearances) to make sure this doesn't happen again? How do I narrow down what caused it in the first place? I do know that this engine was rebuilt by the PO. Perhaps he used cheap parts?...

 

[posplayr]

Pictures?????

 

[Phaedrus]

Click on the tiny thumbnail in the OP.

 

[posplayr]

It is a follower; pretty easy to replace . Figure on degreeing your cams. Was the follower pre stresses or cracked. You need a close up of the break; is it cfress all the way through? If not factory defect.

 

[rapidray]

fluke deal on a stock engine!! Put a new one in & you will be good to go if that cam lobe didn't get dinged. They usually break just behind the adjuster screw on a performance or race engine when the pistons & valves get tangled or a cam chain breaks. No need to degree the cams if they are stock, on stock sprockets. Just time them like the manual says and adjust the valves & go.
Ray.