Date:         Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:43:07 -0400
Reply-To:     Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject:      Lifter adjustment... How can I tell if they are really hydraulics?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Hi Volks,

Here we go again; I'm in the throes of another "Vanagon Experience".
Headlight adjusters; slave cylinder... speedometer, headlight switch,
etc. Up to now I thought I would miss out on starting my own "Hydraulic
Lifter" thread. But apparently that is not the case....

I tried adjusting the valves on my WBX this weekend. First time I have
done hydraulics; though I have been doing solids for many years now.

I turned the cold engine to TDC#1, and backed off the valves on #1
cylinder until they were sloppy loose. Then I tightened them up to the
point of contact, and went two full turns beyond that, and tightened
down the lock nut.

Then I did a compression test, and got NOTHING. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

Tried again at 1.5 turns, same result.

So then asked my daughter to turn the key while I watched the rockers.
Everything is moving correctly, so I backed off to the point of contact,
and the compression came back up to normal. I had this experience on #1
and #4 cylinder. Didn't try #2 or #3; I want to find out what's going on
before I mess with it further.

Now I am wondering if I have a collapsed lifter, or does this engine
have solids in it? Is there a way to tell without pulling it apart?

It doesn't clatter like it would with a bad lifter.

I know it SHOULD have hydraulics in it, but then again it's already a
weird setup with a 1.9L block using 2.1 FI and cooling and a 1.9 exhaust
welded together from tip to tail. Solid lifters wouldn't really surprise me.

I drove it about 20 miles today, and it ran fine the whole time.

If they are solids, I guess I need to readjust at .006 clearance. Sigh.

Happy Trails,

Greg Potts
1973/74/79 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
1987 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop
www.busesofthecorn.com
www.pottsfamily.ca