Anyone seen this????

[Dan Hatch]

Working on an engine with A crank, oil pump, pressure mains and rods. Found this in one lifter hole.

Anyone ever seen this? Cam has a worn spot, but there was extra clearance between the lifter and valve. Stem on this lifter is run out a little farther but not enough to have correct clearance.
Did it wear like this or did someone cut it off? Did not see any problems with hitting it. Moved good lifter to that hole and no clearance issues. What the ????
Any input would be helpful. Thanks Dan

[Kevin Pharis]

Had one just like it in a friends Fronty T. After many valve adjustments... we decided to look further and found a not to mushroom tappet just like that one. It junked the cam lobe and filled the motor with junk, but we were able to clean it up and put a few parts in to make it good as new.

The story at that time... was occasional improper heat treat on a certain brand of lifters

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Yup, a few times. Bad lot of lifters were made many years ago... and maybe a few since...

[speedytinc]

OH YES. Happened to a fellow member on 1 lifter. New motor was running rough. Diagnosed & 4 exh wasnt opening. Found what you did - no head. Story is the mfg made a batch with heads too thick. Vendor realized & ground them thinner.
Didnt bother to re harden. Mixed them in with good lifters. The soft heads quickly disappear. This is a gift that will be giving for years. Another repop we cant trust. Gotta take a file to all of them to be sure before installing.

[Wayne Sheldon]

I did have one years ago, looked like it could have been an original? Non-adjustable. Came out of an engine I reworked. The foot was worn -almost- completely away. All that was left of the foot was a small triangular shape about the size of a dime, with sharp edges.
I don't recall if it had a Ford script or not, but I figured it was probably just a too soft fluke. Probably still in a box of junk somewhere.