valve adjustment

[wwheeler]

I am now adjusting my valves and I always have had to move the rocker arms slightly side to side when using the feeler gauge. Doing this, makes sure the arm is perfectly parallel to the cam lobe. If it is not, I will get a false reading and it will show to be the correct gap when in fact the gap is .002" or more. I am careful not to press the valve down which would increses the gap.

Has anybody else had to do this? I didn't see it in the valve adjustment tour.

[ja17]

Hello Wallace,

We have a lot of documentation on valve adjustment somewhere here.  Try tightening the adjuster until the feeler gauge is locked in tight. Then loosen the adjustment until the feeler gauge can be slid out with some resistance.

[Benz Dr.]

This would indicate that there is silght wear on the rocker and possibly the cam lobe. Sometimes you will have to settle with a happy mediium and pick a number that seems to work.
The intake will never make any noise if it's close to correct. The exhaust will start to make noise around .010'' or if the cam lobe is worn from lash not being adjusted properly. Wear will also occour from dirty oil or the wrong type of oil.

[jaymanek]

Hello Wallace,

We have a lot of documentation on valve adjustment somewhere here.  Try tightening the adjuster until the feeler gauge is locked in tight. Then loosen the adjustment until the feeler gauge can be slid out with some resistance.

Mine have only gone quiet after doing them this way.. If you do it the normal way of tightening until the feeler feels tight then they will infact be far too loose.

[glenn]

Benz Dr.,  What oil do you recommend?

[Brian Davidson]

I have a genius friend who never uses a feeler guage. He tightens and closes the gap completely, then knowing the pitch of the thread,he loosens the adjuster the appropriate number of degrees to obtain the correct clearance. This gets over problems of convexity and concavity of worn contacting surfaces

[Benz Dr.]

Benz Dr.,  What oil do you recommend?

I've used diffferent oils in my cars ovr the years. Right now I'm using Quater State 10W40 full synthetic with about a 1/2 bottle of Lucas oil stabilizer. The only oil I know for sure that has zinc anti wear additive is Royal Purple. Not sure where you can get that.

I would think that any 15W40 used in Diesels would also have zinc but you should ask first.

[thelews]

http://www.penngrade1.com/

Most any weight you like.

[wwheeler]

Interesting thought about the way Joe descibed his proceedure. That makes sense after what I have been doing. I am a engineer/machinist so I know quite a bit about these things and can tell you like Jaymanek says, the valve is probably too loose when set the traditional way. It takes me about 20 minutes a valve by the time I wrestle with it and make sure the tightness on the feeler gauge is the same all the way across the cam lobe. I am going to try the above prceedure and see what happens. Should this proceedure be added to the Valve adjusting tour?

Another useful tip is to buy feeler gauge strips in bulk. Mcmaster Carr sells a 12" long piece for about $1.50. Not only do not have to worry about scratching or warpping the gauge (just throw away), but you can also make it what ever length you want.

[wwheeler]

I used Joe's recommended adjstment proceedure and it worked great! Double checking from the way I had done it previously, I had (3) that were about .002" loose and (2) that were probably .001" too tight. The rest were pretty close. Not bad but it took me 20 minutes a valve! I like this new method because it is very consistant and much quicker. I went back and rechecked and all were right on target. My feeler gauge stock from McMaster arrived in time for this test. Well worth the money. 

[66andBlue]

... Should this proceedure be added to the Valve adjusting tour? ....

Yes, please! It is a Wiki, you can do it, just try it. 

[280SE Guy]

Wallace,

Regarding oil, I use Valvoline VR1 10-30 racing oil in Anthracite. Web site is here:

http://www.valvoline.com/products/consumer-products/motor-oil/racing-motor-oil/6#b



You can get it at a NAPA store in your area. You might have to call ahead and order the 10-30 motor oil as they usually have different grades in stock. I by it by the case, the last case I bought (12 quarts) was about $59.00 which included tax.

I think your 20 minutes per valve adjustment exceeds my 4 hour oil change job, I still say you're having too much fun  

Regards,

280SE Guy

[wwheeler]

I use the same oil VR-1 but I use 20w-50 because Dallas is now considered desert country (64 days of 100*F and counting). I am sure using 20W in the north would be like honey. Try getting that VR1 of your hands! It clings like crazy.