Checking valve clearance advice

[Guest]

Just wondering if I need any specialised tools for checking my valve clearance?

I know I need a get a feeler gauge, can anyone recommend a decent one to me? apart from that anything else?

Is this something that's overly difficult?

I've been quoted £180 to check and if it needs any work then it'll go up to £250 I'd rather try and do it myself.

Any advice or tips will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

[Mr Fro]

It's not particularly difficult, a mathodical approach wins every time. Pop to Halfords and grab a set of feelers - they're only a few quid.

Make sure you use a Haynes/other guide which will tell you which valves to check at which crank rotation.

I find it handy to have a set of vernier or a micrometer to measure the current shim if it's out of spec. Also, I tend to scribble the gap down in a notebook so I don't get lost and so that I can compare the gap values over time.

[cockercas]

As above really.

Deffinetly write them down though.

Get a tube of instant gasket to.

[Stu]

As Fro says really

draw yourself a little diagram of the engine numbering the valves in a way you can understand it usually something like this and write the sizes on

 

 

 

Get a tube of instant gasket to.

 

NOooooooooooooooo!!!

evil stuff!!!

I have seen engines die because of this crap!

if it gets in to the motor is clogs filters, oil pick ups, strainers and oil ways! causing oil starvation!

[Scud]

Another hater of instant gasket, it's the mechanical equivalent of a window fitters silicone sealant - just wrong!

I always take pictures on my phone as it take things to pieces, it really does help getting it back together!

Search the net too for a spread sheet that will allow you to fill out all the values of clearances (actual and required), it will tell you what shim size you need to correct the clearance on each valve.

[Stu]

Search the net too for a spread sheet that will allow you to fill out all the values of clearances (actual and required), it will tell you what shim size you need to correct the clearance on each valve.

 

failing that

there is one in the haynes/workshop manuals

[Classickid21]

Its pretty straight forward todo do you have a haynes manual ?

One of those will help a lot.

[cockercas]

Your only sticking a smear on not blathering the stuff on.

[Stu]

it only takes a little blob to kill a motor

[Classickid21]

Never had any problems with instant gasket ..... but if its the same stuff as i have in my tool box smell like salt and vinger crisps

[tilertim65]

If casings have gaskets just replace- never ever use instant gasket, just smear gasket with touch of grease.

Setting Silicone sealant is for dry casings only, usually the only wet casings with no gasket are crank cases, use red.

Not just a question of leaks but more importantly clearances- especially cam lobes or followers.