Date:         Mon, 27 Aug 2001 11:33:15 -0700
Reply-To:     Alex Justice <tesla5man@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alex Justice <tesla5man@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Initial tappet adjustment/valves
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Howdy, I seem to remember reading some threads on this issue, but I'm having
a slow time pulling up the archives for some reason so here goes:

A month or so ago I replaced the heads on my '86 van.  When I put the rocker
arm assembly back on, I didn't adjust the screws over each valve.  The van
ran fine for several hundred miles...and quietly, too.  No clackity sounds.
I was worried that I should go in and adjust them after reading about people
turning the rocker arm adjuster screws only one turn (after light contact
with the valve) instead of the two turns it suggests in the Bentley
handbook.  So I did.

I set the crankshaft at TDC for cyl #1 and adjusted the screws over those
valves (turning the screw 1 full turn after it made light contact with the
valve).  I rotated (clockwise) the crankshaft 180 degrees, then did cyl #4.

Here is the bulk of my question: after slackening the outside nut, the
pushrod would push the rocker arm as I loosened the screw over the valve to
the point that the screw never cleared the valve until the 'screw side' of
the rocker arm was actually in contact with the top of the valve.  Is this
how it's supposed to work?  I wasn't sure.

Of course, turning the screw in one full turn after it does make light
contact with the valve puts the right parts in contact with each other...but
it just didn't look right having the screws on the rocker arm at different
heights.

I finished the job and (bravely/idiotically...it's a fine line) drove the
van around town.  It sure is loud, but the Haynes manual said it would be
and not to worry about it too much.

The thing is, it was quiet before and now it's not.

Any comments, suggestions, reprimands?

Thanks,
AJ

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