ivangene

Reviving this thread because I too am there (1st time valve adjust) - covers off, motor sat overnight... will try and get them all set tonight or tomorrow and back on the road before the weekend..... I am not going to hurry, I am enjoying the times underneath my old gal....so far everything has been very nice -

Ian Ledger

Not easy to adjust, unless you use the 36° method. Did this 10000 km ago, still perfect!
Ian

rusnak

Just give the tappets a little pull and push, up and down to double check the gap. You will get the right feel, which is that the gap is barely perceptible. It's better to adjust them a little loose than tight.

User 4221

It is not too bad. Just do the valves once, spin the engine a few times by hand, and then check them again.

Don't over-think it and don't over-tighten them. As long as the feeler gauge goes in smoothly with a very slight, constant resistance, you will be OK.

sobamaflyer

This has been on my "to do" list for a few weekends now, I keep procrastinating. Is it better to do it the good old fashioned way described in 101 projects or the "Backside method" I keep seeing mentioned?

ivangene

MAN!

OK so everything was off and ready for the adjust - I keept my cool but it was getting thin. just to set the exhaust on #1 took me close to 30 minutes, then another 30 for the intake

on to #6 - awe easy, maybe 10 minuutes but realized i would have to re-set #1

So - on a roll and ate some food - back at it, maybe another 1 hour? to finish up... then re-set #1 (yup it was too loose) and recheck all the others

my findings was 2 a tiny loose (aside from the 2 I set wrong) and 4 too tight... I mean too tight... I had to wiggle like hell to get the feeler guage in AFTER I loosened them up... no sliding of the feeler guage...pretty sure thats right were i want them, and they were too tight -

I think if you want to hurry and do this before heading to work Monday - your frustration level will be high - this is defenantly one of those "take your time" jobs for first timers - excited to start it up... I will do some cleaning and looking around for a day before buttoning it up

sobamaflyer

Stupid question (it's been 4 or 5 years since I've done a valve adjust on an air-cooled engine).

Why did #1 go out when you adjusted #6?

User 4221

Number 6 should not have any affect on #1.

I suspect Ed improved his "feel" and technique on #6 that triggered the re-check of #1


I think I did the same thing.

Ed Hughes

That is simply not a true statement. Does it take a while the first time? Yes. But to say it isn't easy to adjust unless you use the V-screwdriver is not true.

ivangene

agreed with Ed and YES - my feel was off on #1

TRG1

Nice job! You will be even more confident the next time you do an adjustment--on this car--probably a two hour job.

ivangene

yea, I think I got must of the cussing already done, next time will be better

rusnak

Ha, that story made me laugh. That's how it went for me to get the engine and tranny mated up. Cussing, that feeling of "what am I doing wrong", go inside because it's cold, eat some food, go back out, cuss some more....hahah!!!

Congratulations for getting this far. One word of advice though. If it's still opened up and no oil in yet, it does not hurt to recheck the gaps by pulling and pushing the tappets. Make sure the gaps are uniform, and be sure you're at the right timing marks for each cylinder.

Ed's right, it's not at all difficult, but you have to understand where the cams are in relation to the crank position, and then you have to get the feel right. Personally, I don't like the feeler gauge method because my hands are oily, you end up bending the blade really good, then they sometimes break....

ivangene

finished up tonight... here's the pics -

I cleaned last night and took parts in to the shop to clean today...new gasket set, oil filter, ect...

Ian (age 11) managed to put on all 4 valve covers and torque, I did the plug wires and air box, he did the A/C and A/C belt, air nozzle thing (left side) and the oil drain plugs, then filled it with oil... last step was my new license tabs and fire it up....

IMO she sounds perfect - 5 mile test drive to check out the work and back home to wash up and put tools away... a job well done!! (even had a Coke - Dad had a beer)

2specs

Good job..looks like the pressure finally broke you down. There is much more satisfaction in knowing you did it yourself (or getting an 11 year old to do it for you) .

I'll be doing mine in a couple of weeks or so with the guidance of my mechanic.