Some kind of JOKE?

[BKOMAR]

So......I received my valve adjustment, feeler gauge tool thingey in my package with all my tune-up stuff on monday. It was in a LITTLE baggie down in the corner of the box. I ALWAYS look forward to adding another tool to my arsenal, but when I pulled this thing out... I literally began to laugh out loud. What is Pelican trying to pull off with sending me this keychain version of this tool? Is this one of those..."this is what youre going to get..only much bigger" items. I realize that this tool is the real deal but geeeez.... I had something much grander in my feeble mind. When I really think about it, I don't know why I figured it would be about the size of a small prybar but I did (!). Everything else was what I expected with the exception of the valve cover gaskets. I was pleasantly surprised to find the valve cover nuts/ hardware in the kit. Obviously this is my first (virginal) time for doing the valves, oil change etc... I cant wait to get to it! After seeing the pics of peoples valve adj. tools in past posts (John Walker) I guess I figured it would be much bigger. You guys must have a MACRO setting on your digital cameras! *GRIN* Thought you guys might get a laugh from my skewed minds observations. Brian

[Jdub]

As I explained late one night to a woman of possibility, it is not the tool it is how I use it.

She got the joke, both of them.

John

[MBAtarga]

No, it's not a joke. And you'll be amazed just how BIG that thing is when you try to adjust intake valves on cylinders 3 and 6!

[BKOMAR]

I have begun to practice my um....foul language for the day(s) that I will be doing the job. Luckily, I will be putting the car up on jackstands and it will be out of service for a while while doing the maintenance (the beater GTI has AC and I will be driving that for a while)...so I can take my time and walk away if I get frustrated. It will also help to keep telling myself..."this is therapy....you enjoy doing this" over and over. Brian

[88911coupe]

Just got all the same stuff from Pelican but held off doing the job b/c it was the GF's birthday and she expected to be entertained all day. I am REALLY concerned about doing the intake valves...it looks like very little room to work. Any tips for the uppers would be welcome.
Later

[gr8fl4porsche]

Just did my first valve adjustment last week. Thought I had it perfect but ended up going back and doing one exhaust valve again.

You will appreciate the small tool, especially on the cat side.

On the passenger side (US models) remove ac compressor, oil filter, and air box lid to allow easy access. On the other side just remove the plastic heat tube.

Its not a bad job - lots of up/down going between exhaust and intake and turning the motor to achieve TDC on each cylinder.

I did not have any success turning over the motor just using the fan belt nut. I had to wrap a plastic zip tie around the fan belt to increase tension. I adjusted without the plugs in and that may have been the cause of the misadjusted exhaust valve. Turning over motor with plugs in is more difficult but possible. If you have limited slip you can just turn the wheels with the car in gear but limited slip is an option not standard on most p-cars.

[Jdub]

Randy:

Sounds like you might need to pull a shim from between the two pulley halves and put it outside the outer pulley half to increase tension on the belt, esp. if you are not having success turning the engine over with plugs out via the crankshaft pulley nut.

John

[island911]

Originally posted by BKOMAR
So......I received my valve adjustment, feeler gauge tool thingey in my package with all my tune-up stuff on monday. It was in a LITTLE baggie down in the corner of the box. I ALWAYS look forward to adding another tool to my arsenal, but when I pulled this thing out... I literally began to laugh out loud. . . .
. . .After seeing the pics of peoples valve adj. tools in past posts (John Walker) I guess I figured it would be much bigger. You guys must have a MACRO setting on your digital cameras! . . .

Brian, there is the Porsche design (read: keychain) tool, which Pelican sells, -and then- the John Walker inspired "Island Valve Tool *" (read: right-sized) which Pelican does not sell, but has been on many posts.

[BKOMAR]

I was curious if you can use the same trick as is used on the 914's: Keep one wheel on and planted on a ramp... and the other in the air (jack stand)...remove all the plugs and turn the wheel in the air and that turns the engine.... rather than turning the fan belt/ fan. Brian

[island911]

Yes, but don't remove all the plugs. . . .you may break loose carbon, which can/will fall on to an open valve seat causing the adjustment to be way off. (or so the story goes)

[Wil Ferch]

Guys:
I too was unimpressed when I first got my P213 feeler gauge tool. Two things immediately became obvious:
1.) The tool is "just" too wide. If I could make it about 80% of the original width, it would be perfect for some of the valves. There is almost no clearance in the opening you push it through for 2 of the cylinders, as I remember ( did someone say 3 and 6?).
2.) If yours is not the P213 "A" ( or "B", or whatever the revision is...) then you will find that the tip with the blade is not at a right angle to the holder. I would refomove the blade, bend the tool to more of a right angle, and then replace the blade. It makes rotating the tool in place a lot easier.
Also...I bought 4 of these ( don't ask). Curiously, all were 0.0042" to 0.0045" thick...a bit thicker than the expected .004" ( 0.1mm, which is actiually 0.0039").
Hint..instead of turning the crank at 120 degree intervals, and jumping from one side of the car to the other, rotate at 240 degree intervals, and work on on side of the car ( 1-2-3), then over the other side ( 4-5-6)....easy.
---Wil Ferch

[Mike Feinstein]

Also a good idea to have extra blades available for your cute little feeler guage. About 2/3 of the way through my first valve adjustment a few weeks ago (thanks to MM86Targa for his expertise, supervision, and most importantly, participation), the blade was bent up pretty good, making it difficult for me, the novice, to feel my way to the gap...much less, to set an adjustment so it had that "magnetic" feel when sliding the blade around. I changed blades and it got much easier.

Also, it's a good idea to remove the blade and use a bit of blue locktite on the tiny nuts that hold it on. Sure would hate for one of them to fall off while doing an intake valve adjustment. G-d knows where it would land and how it could ruin your life if you can't find it! I was given this advice and feel obligated to pass it on .

Good luck,

[rstoll]

Need a bigger tool heh? I guess you haven't used it yet. Let us know what you think about the size after you have done the cat side and number 6.

[speeder]

I have only adjusted my valves on 911 once, so first time, don't remember any upper(intakes) being too difficult. Couple bottom ones were a tight fit. It was tricky to do at first because it is mostly a "by feel only" job, ie. on most engines one can see where the guage goes in. After the first couple valves, no problem.

[Wayne 962]

I think it's great that everyone is working on their cars, and saving money doing it themselves! That's basically our goal - to create a new breed of customer that never would have done it before!

-Wayne

[cary]

Also, it's a good idea to remove the blade and use a bit of blue locktite on the tiny nuts that hold it on. Sure would hate for one of them to fall off while doing an intake valve adjustment. G-d knows where it would land and how it could ruin your life if you can't find it! I was given this advice and feel obligated to pass it on .

I was going to add this to the post. But I see that Mike already mentioned it. But I'll re-post it.

Food for thought. For those that have been apprehensive about doing a valve adjustment. I did it for the first time when I dropped the engine for the first time. ( Clutch & leaks ).
I think I went thru the process 3 or 4 times just to get the feel for it. With the engine on a stand, it makes it pretty easy.

I'm not saying drop the engine for a valve adjustment. But when you do, it's a great time to learn how.

[aseem]

Originally posted by island911


Brian, there is the Porsche design (read: keychain) tool, which Pelican sells, -and then- the John Walker inspired "Island Valve Tool *" (read: right-sized) which Pelican does not sell, but has been on many posts.

island911, I sendt you an email about these tools, but my PC has been out of order for a while...
Do you have any of these great tools left? I'm dying to get one.

[island911]

Oslo!? . . .Doh! . . .I was in Oslo just last week.
If I only knew, I would have brought one for you. Mailing international is extra paper work.
Other than that, I need to have more made, it appears.
(should take a few days.) I'll post when I get them.

[CBRacerX]

I'd like one as well, could you contact me with your email Mr. Island?

Thanks!

Chris
Chris@chrisb.net