Speed 6 DIY Tappet adjustment
Discussion
Hi,
seen this mentioned loads of times but can't find any actuall info on adjusting your tappets DIY.
My Tuscan is well in need of adjustment, not to be a tight ar$e, more looking to get more involved with the car myself, I fancy having a go at the tappets.
I've done this loads of times or the old over head valve engines (mostly A-series) but never on a engine rquiring shimms.
Does anyone know the gap tollerences and have any tips on doing the job?
I've had a good search around the net and apart from covering the oil holes and spark plugs and that it's not supposed to be too harder job, I can't find much info.
Many thanks,
Richard.
seen this mentioned loads of times but can't find any actuall info on adjusting your tappets DIY.
My Tuscan is well in need of adjustment, not to be a tight ar$e, more looking to get more involved with the car myself, I fancy having a go at the tappets.
I've done this loads of times or the old over head valve engines (mostly A-series) but never on a engine rquiring shimms.
Does anyone know the gap tollerences and have any tips on doing the job?
I've had a good search around the net and apart from covering the oil holes and spark plugs and that it's not supposed to be too harder job, I can't find much info.
Many thanks,
Richard.
richard90 said:
Hi,
seen this mentioned loads of times but can't find any actuall info on adjusting your tappets DIY.
My Tuscan is well in need of adjustment, not to be a tight ar$e, more looking to get more involved with the car myself, I fancy having a go at the tappets.
I've done this loads of times or the old over head valve engines (mostly A-series) but never on a engine rquiring shimms.
Does anyone know the gap tollerences and have any tips on doing the job?
I've had a good search around the net and apart from covering the oil holes and spark plugs and that it's not supposed to be too harder job, I can't find much info.
Many thanks,
Richard.
Off the top of my head 5-7thou inlet and 10-12 out <but has numerous other figures bouncing round head at mo. so maybe wrong>...awaits correction.seen this mentioned loads of times but can't find any actuall info on adjusting your tappets DIY.
My Tuscan is well in need of adjustment, not to be a tight ar$e, more looking to get more involved with the car myself, I fancy having a go at the tappets.
I've done this loads of times or the old over head valve engines (mostly A-series) but never on a engine rquiring shimms.
Does anyone know the gap tollerences and have any tips on doing the job?
I've had a good search around the net and apart from covering the oil holes and spark plugs and that it's not supposed to be too harder job, I can't find much info.
Many thanks,
Richard.
Tappet adjustment
To do the tappets
1. Remove the top cover all sparkplugs and camshaft cover.
2. Push rags into the plug holes just so nothing can be dropped into the bore, the rear of the head has a large oil way on the exhaust side at the end of the cam by the bulk head you have to put a rag in there also just in case a shim drops if you do the engine will have to be stripped so be careful.
3. Measure the gaps,
• Inlet is 5-7thou gap
• Outlet is 10-12thou gap,
To measure them turn the engine by a rachet or spanner until the cam lobe at its top of its lift is pointing up at you the valve should be fully closed measure each gap on all.
It is best that you make a table on paper with each valve having three boxes so you can write down the results eg inlet v1
box 1 6thou
box 2 size for shim
box 3 size of shim needed
If the back ones are more than 2thou more than max do them if not leave alone.
If the gap of the valve is to small eg 3thou then the shim needs to be smaller than the original shim to get the shim out you have to use a small bar or bent screwdriver compress the valve spring get a magnet to get the shim from the collet and repeat this on each one that is out. If the gap is to big eg 8thou then the shim needs to be bigger than the original shim.
eg shim size 294thou the needed shim would be 296thou to close the gap to 6thou .
Just be careful do not drop any thing if you do make sure you get it back you cant just take off the sump it is a full strip down to remove it as all the timing chains have to come off.
using loctite 598 to re-seal the rocker cover and plug cover.....
To do the tappets
1. Remove the top cover all sparkplugs and camshaft cover.
2. Push rags into the plug holes just so nothing can be dropped into the bore, the rear of the head has a large oil way on the exhaust side at the end of the cam by the bulk head you have to put a rag in there also just in case a shim drops if you do the engine will have to be stripped so be careful.
3. Measure the gaps,
• Inlet is 5-7thou gap
• Outlet is 10-12thou gap,
To measure them turn the engine by a rachet or spanner until the cam lobe at its top of its lift is pointing up at you the valve should be fully closed measure each gap on all.
It is best that you make a table on paper with each valve having three boxes so you can write down the results eg inlet v1
box 1 6thou
box 2 size for shim
box 3 size of shim needed
If the back ones are more than 2thou more than max do them if not leave alone.
If the gap of the valve is to small eg 3thou then the shim needs to be smaller than the original shim to get the shim out you have to use a small bar or bent screwdriver compress the valve spring get a magnet to get the shim from the collet and repeat this on each one that is out. If the gap is to big eg 8thou then the shim needs to be bigger than the original shim.
eg shim size 294thou the needed shim would be 296thou to close the gap to 6thou .
Just be careful do not drop any thing if you do make sure you get it back you cant just take off the sump it is a full strip down to remove it as all the timing chains have to come off.
using loctite 598 to re-seal the rocker cover and plug cover.....
JayB said:
Will be checking the gaps on my engine over the weekend, Quite happy to show you how I set them and give you an idea what kit you need. Could also give you a run though on balancing the throttles & TVR diagnostic software. Based nr Ilkley W Yorks if your interested
Hi Jay,thanks very much for that, I'm moving this weekend/ early next week so wouldn't have time. Really appreciate your generous offer though.
Maybe I could call in when I'm next down your way?
Thanks again,
Richard.
Just completed adjusting the Valve clearance's, apart from the 2 valves nearest the gearbox, it really was an easy job.
Once you've cracked it, I'd say it's about 2 hours work, then another 2hrs if the 1 inlet and 1 exhaust nearest the gear box needs doing. Of course you have to wait for the new shims to arrive if you need any.
The windscreen rubbar on my car was due a replacemnt so I popped the faring off the bottom of the wind screen which gave much better access to the inner most valves. Run's sweet as you like now, no ticking at all form the head area!
An afternoon well spent, would happily do this as a regular item every year.
If I can give any pointers to anyone, just let me know.
Cheers,
Ricahrd.
Once you've cracked it, I'd say it's about 2 hours work, then another 2hrs if the 1 inlet and 1 exhaust nearest the gear box needs doing. Of course you have to wait for the new shims to arrive if you need any.
The windscreen rubbar on my car was due a replacemnt so I popped the faring off the bottom of the wind screen which gave much better access to the inner most valves. Run's sweet as you like now, no ticking at all form the head area!
An afternoon well spent, would happily do this as a regular item every year.
If I can give any pointers to anyone, just let me know.
Cheers,
Ricahrd.
out of interest what sort of mechanical knowledge do you have? I would love to be able to do this sort of thing but wouldnt know where to start (in terms of measuering valve clearence etc. Is there any engines that use tappets that are easy/cheap to get hold of? Would like something to practice on before stripping the head down on the Tuscan...
I'd say my mechanical knowledge is quite good, though this is the first job I've done on the Tuscan. It takes some effort but I don't think would be beyond any one with some sense and paticence.
I learnt how to work on eingines on BL's A-series, they are really simple and always break so great to learn on! You could buy a knackered A-series for not a lot and work on that to learn, it's along process though. The best thing would be to get involved with a friend who has knowledege and learn that way.
Where do you live? Youre most welcome to help with the many jobs I do on my cars if youre in the North East?
Good luck, have fun getting your hands dirty!
Cheers,
Richard.
I learnt how to work on eingines on BL's A-series, they are really simple and always break so great to learn on! You could buy a knackered A-series for not a lot and work on that to learn, it's along process though. The best thing would be to get involved with a friend who has knowledege and learn that way.
Where do you live? Youre most welcome to help with the many jobs I do on my cars if youre in the North East?
Good luck, have fun getting your hands dirty!
Cheers,
Richard.
Daston said:
out of interest what sort of mechanical knowledge do you have? I would love to be able to do this sort of thing but wouldnt know where to start (in terms of measuering valve clearence etc. Is there any engines that use tappets that are easy/cheap to get hold of? Would like something to practice on before stripping the head down on the Tuscan...
I am currently in the middle of adjusting the tappet on my T350c, I have only got to the stage of measuering the valve clearences. 18 of them are ok and within the tolerances, 6 of them the cleareance has closed up.
Is it possible to remove the exiting shims and skim them down to size or is it best to order new correct sized ones?
Is it possible to remove the exiting shims and skim them down to size or is it best to order new correct sized ones?
Edited by zooooom on Thursday 26th May 21:00
May be an old thread but I used it to measure all mine today.
On the top row( inlet) all within 5 to 7 except one at 3 and guess what its the nearest to the bulkhead top row. Could not be more difficult to get to !
In the bottom row again all within 10-12 except one at tight 10 near to 9 and one at 13.
Tempted to leave the bottom row( exhaust) and I do need to do that one at the top at 3 I guess.
David
On the top row( inlet) all within 5 to 7 except one at 3 and guess what its the nearest to the bulkhead top row. Could not be more difficult to get to !
In the bottom row again all within 10-12 except one at tight 10 near to 9 and one at 13.
Tempted to leave the bottom row( exhaust) and I do need to do that one at the top at 3 I guess.
David
Gassing Station | Speed Six Engine | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff