Adjusting my Valves

Post by **Leatherneck** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:51 pm

Cheating is paying somebody else to do it.

scott the viking · Post by **scott the viking** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 5:37 pm

subybaja wrote:...and since we're on the subject of cheating...
Going with your theory of anywhere on the base circle, Scott, how about this:
Set to TDC. One side will have one valve depressed and 3 free, the other side will have 3 depressed and 1 free. Adjust all 4 free ones. Turn engine over. Depressed/free will be reversed. Set other 4. Done.
Sound OK?

Yes that's fine..the way I explained it..is NOT the way I do it...I just thought it would be easier to understand if he did not have to worry about TDC and which cylinder is which. Not that I am saying he would find any of that difficult...sometimes things make the most sense when put in the simplest terms.

72bajaben · Post by **72bajaben** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:22 pm

Leatherneck wrote:Cheating is paying somebody else to do it.

yea i thought about it.....

Post by **Leatherneck** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:25 pm

Naw don't do it, you have to be able to do this if you are going to drive. Once you get it, be like breaking down an M-16 blindfolded while some girl is... oh you get what I am saying.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:30 am

I'll be bold..

If you own an aircooled and will not adjust your valves... you'll damage your engine...

DO NOT let a shop do it.. they normally do it wrong (truth)... most shops do not pay the same attention you'll do.

The BugMeVideo #1 is maintenance.. will walk you step by step through the process and cost less than an hour of any shop's time.

T.

subybaja · Post by **subybaja** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:39 am

So I guess the question is, Scott, as a bonafide expert, how do you do it, and why?

scott the viking · Post by **scott the viking** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:08 am

Well...to tell the truth...I don't really have a set "method". Normally when I am adjust my valves...I am doing something else at the same time...So the way I do it probably changes every time I do it...here is what I normally do. I peel off both valve covers (that's important)

I hook up my remote starter switch, I have my feeler gauge blade in one hand...I bump the starter with my switch until the majority of the rocker on the side I am on are on the base circle and then I run my blade under them. If it fits snug..like I can feel drag...I don't adjust, if it goes in and has room to spare, I adjust. So...I guess what I do is just bump the engine and adjust as each is on the base circle of the cam. This is probably not the way a guy who has never adjust valves should do it, just works fast for me. By the way...I can normally get quite a bit of running before the need adjusting...might be the rollers...might be the Amsoil.

turboblue · Post by **turboblue** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 7:53 am

MNAirHead wrote:I'll be bold..

If you own an aircooled and will not adjust your valves... you'll damage your engine...

DO NOT let a shop do it.. they normally do it wrong (truth)... most shops do not pay the same attention you'll do.

The BugMeVideo #1 is maintenance.. will walk you step by step through the process and cost less than an hour of any shop's time.

T.

How about saying don't let most non VW shops adjust your valves.
We adjust valves on a fair amount of VW engines and I think we have it down..........

Post by **david58** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:13 am

The name of this post should have been Adjusting Valves by the Book
I do agree with doing it this way I never follow directions. I never I mean never go somewhere and return the same way.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:38 am

Gary...

You're right...

Let's move it to a commandment...

Adjust your own valves (or recheck) if someone else does it.

Nobody leaves with a car I supply until they know how to do it... don't want to learn.. you can't buy it.

Sorry for the speed typing -- I stand corrected

Tim

turboblue · Post by **turboblue** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 12:25 pm

No harm, no foul Tim.
Just needed a little clarification.........

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 12:30 pm

turboblue wrote:No harm, no foul Tim.
Just needed a little clarification.........

maybe I could explain for a second... West Coast shops commonly just blow through these in volume...

Places east of Arizona many times teach newbies to do tune ups.. chances are a valve setting may be the most important thing done to a bug.

Valves are one of the most important topic that most folks don't pay enough attention to.

THANKS for catching this ... unfortunately I replied 1/2 way from reading 1/2 the post.

Tim

Post by **david58** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:48 am

Great info.

Post by **david58** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:14 pm

fortyeye wrote:You might want to take a look here: http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic ... t=pushrods

Lash for AL pushrods and CM pushrods isn't the same due to expansion rate differences.