Elephant foot. Is it a wear item?

[regnihe]

Are the elephant foot adjusters considered a wear item, after all these years? This is in the context of a stock 3.2 race engine that lives between 5,000 and 6,700 rpm all the time?

[lvporschepilot]

If you're referring to the valve adjustment feet, then not at all. As long as it's not appearing to want to fall out of the threaded socket then run it.

[Flat6pac]

The elephant foot becomes loose on the adjuster and has to be considered on valve adjustment.
Bruce

[otto_kretschmer]

I thought you guys were talking about Chernobyl

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant%27s_Foot_(Chernobyl)#:~:text=%20%20%20%20 v%20t%20e%20Chernobyl,International%20Childre%20.. .%20%201%20more%20rows%20

[Emo993]

I'd say yes. While working on my long block, checking cam degrees and then Valve to piston clearance. I found the valve was way to close to pistons on four cylindesr. Later found out the threads were damaged and created the miss reading. replaced them all. Best, Mark

[Henry Schmidt]

I wouldn't call them a wear item but anything can fail. The biggest issue we find with valve adjusters is damaged threads. Mechanics/service providers often over tighten the adjuster causing damage to the threads on the adjuster and the rocker..
When we rebuild rockers, the last thing we do is trace the threads with a forming tap (no material removed) to repair the damage caused by over-tightening.

[Black 993]

I have this same question, as on my early car (2.2) I have mildly clackety valves, and have had a hard time getting the valve adjustment dialed in. This is not for lack of experience or understanding -- I've been doing successful valve adjustments for 20 years. Best I can tell, the elephant's feet have enough play in them that some of them give one reading cold during valve adjustment and then they either loosen as the engine warms up or the feet operate looser on the ball while the engine is running, creating a different lash setting. Not sure what's up. At this point my plan is to isolate each noisy rocker with a stethoscope and adjust those a little tighter. I guess if that doesn't work, I'll change the adjusters.

[safe]

I've seen engines that's very hard do set the lash because of worn elephant foot. They can get notchy with wear and/or crud so they won't move freely and smooth.

[cgarr]

they can get wear on the surface where it contacts the valves and most times its off center so when you adjust the valves the feeler gauge rides on the high spot making it hard to get an accurate gap.