Date:         Sat, 5 Feb 2000 17:14:06 -0800
Reply-To:     easoars <easoars@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         easoars <easoars@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Subject:      Fw:      Re: Hydraulic valve lifter (mis)operation
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

OK folks I adjusted my lifters to one complete turn after double checking...
that lifters were completely pumped up. I left the engine running for 10
minutes with the .006 of an inch. It was noisy and scary to continue running
it that way. I would diffenitely not run it that way for any extended
period. At this point the one turn did the trick even though there was
tension throughout adjustments. Did compression test before adjustment 1,2,4
132psi  and number 3 had 120. I'll have to check after these settings.
Andy
Wild Wild Westy 82

----- Original Message -----
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2000 12:38 PM
Subject: Re: Hydraulic valve lifter (mis)operation


> There's a distinction to be made here -- I've been trying to make it but
> apparently not clearly enough.  The specified and proper and normal and
> correct and standard and usual procedure is to start with fully extended
> lifters (which is how they are when you install them), adjust them to
> touching and then two full turns beyond, secure them, and forget about
them
> until the next rebuild.
>
> UNFORTUNATELY that doesn't always work.  There is a defect in the system
> (in some cases) that is allowing the lifters (in some cases) to overextend
> by a tiny amount which makes the valves leak.  THIS IS NOT NORMAL
> OPERATION, BUT IT EXISTS.  When it DOES exist, the "temporary" workaround
> cure has been to reduce the preload adjustment from two turns to one turn,
> or half a turn, or a quarter turn, or none at all.  In the case of the
> engine that I'm driving around,  it is absolutely intolerant of any
> preload.  When I adjust by the method of backing off until the compression
> stops rising, I end up with about .006 lash.
>
> I am trying to discover the source of the problem.  I have theories about
> it, not yet tested.  I invite ANYONE to discover and PROVE the source of
> this problem so that we can all go back to adjusting these things the
> proper way, which is two turns preload immediately upon installation.
That
> gives the proper distance so that the lifter can compensate properly in
> either direction.  There should be no need whatsoever to let the lifters
> "pump up" since they are installed fully extended and already full of oil.
>
> ANY PERCEIVED NECESSITY TO REDUCE THE PRELOAD FROM TWO TURNS IS WARNING
> THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS -- REDUCING THE PRELOAD (WHICH REDUCES THE SPRING
> TENSION IN THE LIFTER AT THE SAME TIME THAT IT REDUCES THE AVAILABLE
> ADJUSTMENT RANGE) IS A **WORKAROUND** AND NOT A CURE.
>
> <flame off>
>
> david
>
> At 07:03 AM 2/1/2000 -0800, Richard Bias wrote:
> >All,
> >  The whole thing about adjusting to 6 mils of lash was and is only a
> >momentary (1/2 hour tops I believe) part of the "adjusting process".  No
one
> >said (and if they did, they were wrong) to leave the valves at 6 mils of
> >lash.  It is just to get the lifters to pump full of oil before you
adjust
> >them back down 1 turn (360 degrees) from 6 mils, to allow the "hydraulic"
> >part of "hydraulic lifters" to take over from there.
> >  Rich
>
> David Beierl - Providence, RI
>   http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
> '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
> '85 GL "Poor Relation"