Valve adjustment secret.

[axl911]

Is this the secret to adjusting the valve: there is no perfect drag?

Tell me if this makes sense to you. Slide the feeler guage in, then try to rock the rocker back and forth. It should not move. If it does, it's too loose. Tighten up until you can move the feeler around, and the rocker can't be rocked back and forth. Remove the feeler, now you should be able to rock the rocker back and forth a bit. If it doesn't, it's too tight.

The problem with the relying on the feel of the drag is that the drag will change if the angle of the feeler blade changes.

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anthony

[Kevin Stewart]

The drag will also change if you run mobile one, are you using a feelers guage or are you using the actual tool for this, yea there is about an 1/8 turn that makes a difference, Kevin

[john walker's workshop]

the angle of the gauge shouldn't be changing. you don't reef the gauge all around, you must keep it on the same plane as the tip of the valve. use a twisting motion to work the gauge in and out. 2 or 3 twists in or out, with no slipping and you've got it. if the gauge can be slipped in/out, then it's a hair too loose. if it's too tight, the gauge will get all bent up, or torn.

[Kevin Stewart]

sounds like i may have my valves a hair loose, will it hurt anything John?, Kevin

[speeder]

Absolutely not. But I'm not John. But that's what he would say.

[bill3667]

I may be mistaken but I think it would be better to be a hair too loose than a hair too tight though they may make a little more noise loose. Though my experience is more w/ BMW motorcycle airhead motors I suspect they're quite simular in this respect.

John, please correct me if I'm wrong.
Bill W.

[Superman]

Be sure your exhaust valves are not too tight. Too loose is safer, but it causes more valve noise (ticking) and can make the car lurchy in parking lots. As John said, there should be some drag on the feeler gauge, but not enough to tear it, or make it impossible to wiggle-insert. It's a fine line. WAY, WAY finer than 1/8 turn. When adjusting, carefully watch the positon of the slot, and move it just a TINY bit at a time. 1/8 turn can take it from way to tight to way too loose.

[Wil Ferch]

most of my feeler gauges have miked out at .0042-.0044.....understand that.
--Wil Ferch

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Wil Ferch
most of my feeler gauges have miked out at .0042-.0044.....understand that.
--Wil Ferch

news to me.. reads like great info.. thanks

[ewave]

Doesn't anyone use one of the dial gages to do this?

[Superman]

I use the dial gauge method and I like it much better, though it burns more time. Most folks prefer the feeler gauge method, including many who have tried both. I understand their feeling too. But I do like the dial gauge method best for myself.

[Vipergrün]

I have found a trick that works pretty well, but perhaps someone can chime in to tell me if it's ok or not.

I leave the gauge in there and tighten things up a bit. Then, I continue to micro-tighten the nut and feel the resistance of the guage as I wiggle it. Don't know if this is good or not because the adjusting screw still moves ever so slightly as I tighten the nut and get the final adjustment.

Does this make sense

[Superman]

That method will cost you some feeler gauge blades. For the most part, feeler gauge or no feeler gauge, if it is loose I carefully note the exact position of the screw slot, and adjust that. With the screwdriver engage for feel, I loosen the jam nut, but not all the way. Usually the screw does not move. Then, with the jam nut making pressure on the screw, but very little since it has been loosened, I turn them in the direction I need, together. Just a tiny bit. Then I hold the screw steady while tightening the jam nut.

[Chuck Moreland]

I've tried the dial indicator method. If the engine is in the car, forget it. No room for the indicator and base on most cylinders.

To learn the right drag feel, set a caliper to .004 and slide your feeler guage through it. That is how it should feel.

[makaio]

Dito to what Chuck said.

[Doug Zielke]

So far, I really haven't read any "secrets" here.
But it's no secret that the island911 Valve Adjustment Tool (tm) almost makes the job a pleasure. And as accurate a setting as you can get!

[Vipergrün]

Indeed, the Island911 (tm) tool is terrific and that's how I am able to adjust the valves as indicated in my post without breaking blades Best tool I have purchased to date.

[Silveresrty911S]

What's the Island911 tool? Havn't heard of that one.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Silveresrty911S
What's the Island911 tool? Havn't heard of that one.

a great story about the birth of a great tool

better valve adjust tool

[Silveresrty911S]

Great story, I'm going to get one of those for my future valve adjusts.
Ron, Thanks for the link

Rick