8 replies to this topic

[OldBetty1979]

Okay I have took the rocker cover off and have my feeler gauges..

What clearance should everything be at?

Be as simple as you can

Cheers!

[lrostoke]

This is from Haynes, I know others on here do use slightly different

Valve clearances

Inlet and exhaust (engine cold):

All engine types except 12A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.30 mm

12A engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.33 to 0.38 mm


Couple of ways of doing it. If the cars on the flat and you have room, Put it in gear I forget which one makes it easy but try 2nd or 3rd. Then push the car, you will see the valves open and shut.

Then use the rule of 9

Counting valves from radiator end 1 thru to 8, when you see a valve is pushed fully down, adjust the valve that makes it add upto 9..You don't have to be that accurate with when the valve is fully down, just so long as it looks like its down. You'll get a feel for it as you do them.

eg If No 1 valve is down, adjust No 8, If No 3 is down adjust No 6 and so on.

If no much room, jack up a front wheel, remove spark plugs, put it gear , now turn the wheel you jacked up, it will turn the engine.

Edited by lrostoke, 14 February 2012 - 02:09 PM.

[tiger99]

Or use a spanner or socket on the crankshaft pulley nut if you can reach it. I much prefer pushing the car, in gear. ignition off, but in a very small garage it may not be feasible.

[dklawson]

If you cannot roll the car to turn the engine there are a couple of other methods.
1) With the spark plugs removed and the gearbox in neutral, pull the fan and fan belt to rotate the engine.
2) With the spark plugs removed, jack up one (1) front wheel. With the gearbox in 1st gear, turn the elevated wheel "forward" to turn the engine over.

As for the actual setting process, use the rule of 9 mentioned by Steve to get the engine where you need it to be. Then loosen the lock nut on the rocker arm followed by loosening the adjusting screw. Place the feeler gauge between the top of the valve stem and the pad on the rocker arm. Slowly, gently tighten the adjusting screw until the feeler gauge is just barely gripped. Then holding the adjusting screw so it rotates no further, tighten the nut on the rocker arm. The gap is set correctly when you have just the tiniest amount of drag on the feeler gauge when you attempt to remove it. If there is no drag, the gap is too wide. If you have to tug on the feeler gauge to remove it, the gap is too tight. You have to make the adjustments a few times to get comfortable with what feels right. If in doubt, a bit loose is better than a bit tight. Loose means more valve noise, tight means you may damage/burn the valves when the engine is running.

You may find an assortment of feeler gauge types at your local parts store. During the past few years I have started using a type I REALLY like. The tip of the feeler gauge is ground down by 0.002" compared to the main section of the blade. This gives you two thicknesses on one blade. The advantage of this type of feeler gauge is that the "thin" tip is a "go" portion and the thicker rear is a "no-go" portion. If for example you wanted to set the valves to a .012" gap, you would select the feeler gauge that is .011" on the thin portion and .012" on the thick portion. When the valves are properly adjusted the .011" "go" portion of the feeler gauge should slip easily between the valve and rocker arm pad. Keep inserting and when you reach the .013" section of the feeler gauge, the blade should become difficult to insert in the gap. These feeler gauges cost a bit more but are really nice for setting valves.

[OldBetty1979]

Thanks for the help guys but I'm going to get it rolling road tuned so everything is perfect :) Well when the dude who does it at mini sport is back to work..

[tiger99]

You want 4th gear to turn the engine by pushing the car or rotating a wheel! (Unless you really like hard work).

[dklawson]

True. 4th will give you more mechanical advantage when trying to rotate the engine. My mistake.

[usher1968]

how do you turn engine on a auto

[Ethel]

By another method to pushing the car. The fan belt should work without the plugs in, stick a spanner on the alternator. You could use a quick burst on the starter motor instead, and use "the rule of 9" to figure out which valve to check. There's plenty of leeway, each valve is shut around 3/4's of the time, so if its complimentary for 9 is open in the slightest.....

 

 

V thorough explanation: