Valve Adjusting

[7391417]

I am looking for everyones opinion on adjusting valves, particularly the act of placing the feeler guage between the valve stem and adjusting screw. How should this feel, everything I read tells me it should place a "slight drag" on the feeler gauge when properly adjusted. Well I don't know if I am just really scared of making them to tight or what but I can adjust the adjusters over quite a range and get what I call a "slight drag." SO everytime I adjust I end up with noisy valves because I adjust them to loose. I have a 1.7 and I am using the proper clearances as per the haynes manual and the pelican article. Basically I need to know what I should be feeling when I adjust the valves with a description better than "slight drag"

Thanks,

-Brent

[Germain]

2 things. First, you will learn a great deal about how to use a feeler guage when you use it. I typically tighen down the screws until I feel a drag, then remove the guage and lock them in position. I had the screw turn a bit when I would lock it, making it a little tighter. Then if doing a .008 clearance I would do the following. I would take the .010 and see if it fit under the valve, if it did that meant I needed to tighten the screw more. If it didn't fit, I would take the .006 and insure there was tons of free play in it. Then I would recheck the .008 and verify that it fit in. Remember to turn the engine over at least one full rotation before re-checking. This will make sure everything was done correctly.

[Dave Bell]

If needed, bend the end of the feeler guage, 1/2 inch from the end, so zero flex is needed when it is slid in to check the gap.

Hey I didn't know that there was anyway to adjust the valves on the 914 so they would not be noisy! I thought mine were noisy when I bought the machine and at that time all the clearances were low and there was NO clearance on 2 or 3 valves.

Valve and lifter noise right behind your head is part of the 914 ambience..... or you can put in hydraulic lifters... and then you may need to change cam, pushrods, springs...?...

- Dave

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

This is one area where I strongly recommend getting help. Find a buddy who knows how to use a feeler gauge, have him set one valve so you can see how that feels. Either that, or (gulp!) pay a shop to adjust the valves for you, then go check the measurement.

I used the first method--a friend came over and confirmed that all the valves were *WAY* too loose. What I thought was "slight drag" was actually very loose valves--same as you. Now I set them to where the drag is very definite IMO...

--DD

[BenI]

One simple thing that helps me get a feel for drag is to loosen an adjuster screw and put the feeler gauge under it. Keep sliding the feeler gauge back and forth as you gently tighten the screw. I think you should quickly get a feel for slight drag and serious drag. Remember to check again after tightening the nut because the screws like to wander. Good luck!

[Germain]

7291417, DD has a good point, but you don't need a friend to tell you if they are too loose. You can use the .010 feeler (if doing a .008 clearance) and make sure it will not fit in the clearance. If it does, its WAY too loose. Same for too tight, if you cannot get the .008 feeler in )and your doing a .008 clearance) its way too tight.

Remember if your going to error, its better to be a bit on the loose side. That way the valve has a way releif itself of the heat. If it too tight and holding the valve open, it can't get rid of any heat.

Also, A cold engine is going to make quite a racket compared to a warm one. Thats because as the engine heats up those valve clearances you did get alot smaller.

And I think you know to do this with a completely cold engine. I park mine over night and do it first thing in the morning.

Of course, take my advice as you will. I'd say its fair enough to say that I am quite a bit more relaxed about the valves then most people. I find its easy to do, and takes me less then 30 minutes. If you would like I can tell you how to speed up the time it takes to do an adjustment, but alot of people hear don't like my method. Mainly becuase nothing is perfectly round.

Hope any of this helps.