Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 07:41:22 -0500
Reply-To: "G.M.Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "G.M.Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Organization: Bulley-Hewlett
Subject: Re: Help!, Something funny with Valve adjustment
In-Reply-To: <3DC9DD90.11B45720@cs.fiu.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
This will probably gain groans from some, but I've given up on ALL fussy
methods of adjusting the valves on our 1982. I find none of the methods,
(+2 turns, +1 turn, 0 clearance, .006 clearance, do it warm, do it cold,
do it in a boat, do it with a goat, etc.) make ANY difference in how my
motor runs.
If I pre-compress the lifter with one or two turns the van runs funny
for a few minutes, then the lifters soon settle back to 0 clearance and
it runs great. If I start at 0 clearance, there is a little initial
clatter, then it runs great. If I start at .006 clearance, there is more
initial clatter, then it runs great. Etc. Etc.
AS a result, I still check the adjustment every 10k-15k, but now I
basically release the tension on the screw until the rocker can rock
freely, then I screw it back in to take up the slack, somewhere between
0 clearance and +1 turn compression. No careful measurement, no secret
incantation. I do it cold, warm, or hot, whatever the motor happens to
be when I arrive under the van. Compression is always rock solid
(+/-160 psi) and even within 15 minutes of running.
Groan, flame, or roll your eyes. (oh yeah, I use off-brand oil, and
sometime use Fram oil filters, too. so take my advice with a grain of
salt)
G. Matthew Bulley
Creator and Grand Emporer of the
VW Heat, Rust, Noise Web Page
http://www.bulley-hewlett.com/VWindex/
Owner of too many VW's to mention
Mount Olive, NC
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Jeff Strickrott
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 10:27 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Help!, Something funny with Valve adjustment
Hi All:
I am in the middle of adjusting my valves on an 82 Vanagon and have run
into a problem. Advice and wisdom sought.
Before I begin let me state that I have read (but maybe not understood)
the following on adjusting valves for an air-cooled Vanagon:
Bentley's,
Haynes,
Muir's,
Stan's ShapingUp page
(http://williamwareagency.com/forsale/stanvan/shapingup.htm),
and
Boston' Bob's Hydraulic lifters article
(http://www.bostonengine.com/articles/hydraulicll.htm).
I decided to use the 0.006 method of adjusting the valves as In thought
I understood this procedure.
On a good valve, I adjust the lash to 0.006 and then test the clearance.
I can just place a 0.006 gauge between the valve and adjustment screw,
but cannot fit a 0.007 gauge. In addition after adjustment I can just
slightly move the rocker back and forth.
Now on some of the valves (two so far) I have the following problem. I
adjust the lash for 0.006, but when I test it with the 0.006 feeler, I
cannot fit the feeler between valve and adjustment screw. However, I
have no problem with the 0.007 or 0.008 in blades. If I back off on the
adjustment screw a little bit, the 0.006 blade will fit, but again so
will the larger sizes. On these valve the rocker will not move after
adjustment. When the larger feeler blades fit I am wondering if I am
just compressing the lifter due to air. The van sat for 24 hour since I
took off the valve covers. The PO had torqued the jam nuts down so tight
that three of them stripped and I had to find new ones before continuing
with adjustment.
Would it be better if I tried another adjustment method? Would Stan's 1
turn clockwise be a better solution?
Puzzled in paradise :-(
Regards,
--Jeff Strickrott
82 Westy, South Florida
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