Valve clearance/noisy tappets

tonydgray · Oct 5th, 2010, 11:19

Hi all

The engine on my 1973 145 was a little noisy so I thought I would take a look at the tappets and check that they have the correct clearance. The clearance range that I used was 0.016" to 0.018" although I have set them on the snug side being 0.016". However I have a couple of questions following this work:

1. Prior to adjustment I noticed that all bar one of the tappets were set lower than the 0.016" minimum, probably around the 0.014" region. Can anyone think of a reason for this and if it would have done any damage? Please read on to question 2 as this may be the reason!

2. With the clearances up at 0.016" now the engine sounds like a bag of spanners, is this normal or have I got a big repair bill on the horizon? :-(

3. How is it possible to set the clearances when the engine is warm or cold, wouldn't the temperature make a difference to the gap?

Thanks

Tony

ALLOA · Oct 5th, 2010, 16:48

Hi Tony, I've set up tappets with feeler gauges etc... and found the same as you. I guess that this could be due to 40 yrs wear! I tend to run the engine with the rocker off and then touch each rocker with the tip of my finger. You will feel what needs to be tightened. I know it doesn't sound very scientific but it does work.

Scott

capt jack · Oct 5th, 2010, 19:30

Hi Tony

Which engine does your car have?

Cheers

Jack

Derek UK · Oct 5th, 2010, 20:20

Noise is normal. Be worried when they get quieter. If you find that the clearances get smaller it indicates that you are starting to get valve recession due to no lead. Now that you have them adjusted to a know clearance you can tell next time you check if that's got any worse. Maybe check after 3-5k miles.
"Yes, they all sound like that Sir".

asneddon · Oct 5th, 2010, 22:28

Also note that the head of the rocker can get worn. This turns them concave, so your feeler guage picks up the gap from the edge of the rocker to the top of the valve stem.

You can file them flat again, or get a click-adjust type tool to set them.

tonydgray · Oct 6th, 2010, 11:23

Hi Capt Jack

The engine is a B20A

Cheers

Tony

tonydgray · Oct 6th, 2010, 11:38

Thanks guys, a lot of information there to be going on with and some very interesting points.
I will take a look at the wear situation and see if there is any issue there.
I love the "Yes, they all sound like that Sir", made me chuckle. Half the battle is getting used to a new and the noises that it should and shouldn't make so thanks for that.
ALLOA - I was wondering how can I tell the it needs to be tightened by touching the rocker while the engine is running?

Lastly - does everyone run with lead replacement in their fuel or just run standard unleaded?

Thanks again

Tony

capt jack · Oct 6th, 2010, 13:06

Hi Tony

I had an 1800ES with the B20E engine, and yes it was quite 'tappety', and yes, in my ignorance I tried to tighten things up, only to find that the gaps were already spot on.

As a general observation, I found with my car that there were values according to the book - notably tappets, timing, points gap / dwell etc, and then there was what made the car run nicely.

True to say that the one didn't generally match the other. I put it down to the joys of an old car, set things up where they 'felt right', and made regular checks.

I think it's what they used to call 'tinkering' in the days before lap-tops and fuel maps!

cheers

Jack

tonydgray · Nov 5th, 2010, 10:31

Hi everyone. Just an update on the tappet front. In the end I opted for the click adjust tool to set the tappets. My tappets were extremely noisy when set with a feeler gauge. Now after setting them with the click adjust the engine still sounds like a tappety engine but a lot quieter and happier than it was before. The click adjust gets a thumbs up from me but shop around as prices seem to vary wildly!

marcmarel · Nov 5th, 2010, 10:55

Interesting tool. Might give less difference between valves, but it still relies on a flat feel gauge. This might cause to much play in an engine with worn rocker arms (a slight hollow has been worn out), as asnedon mentioned.

The idea is to grind the tip of the feeler gauge to the width of the valve stem, so it slides in the hollow and measures actual valve play.

Oct 5th, 2010, 11:19	#1
tonydgray Member Last Online: Feb 19th, 2024 11:19 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Atworth	Valve clearance/noisy tappets Hi all The engine on my 1973 145 was a little noisy so I thought I would take a look at the tappets and check that they have the correct clearance. The clearance range that I used was 0.016" to 0.018" although I have set them on the snug side being 0.016". However I have a couple of questions following this work: 1. Prior to adjustment I noticed that all bar one of the tappets were set lower than the 0.016" minimum, probably around the 0.014" region. Can anyone think of a reason for this and if it would have done any damage? Please read on to question 2 as this may be the reason! 2. With the clearances up at 0.016" now the engine sounds like a bag of spanners, is this normal or have I got a big repair bill on the horizon? :-( 3. How is it possible to set the clearances when the engine is warm or cold, wouldn't the temperature make a difference to the gap? Thanks Tony

Nov 5th, 2010, 10:31	#9
tonydgray Member Last Online: Feb 19th, 2024 11:19 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Atworth	Purchased click adjust tool Hi everyone. Just an update on the tappet front. In the end I opted for the click adjust tool to set the tappets. My tappets were extremely noisy when set with a feeler gauge. Now after setting them with the click adjust the engine still sounds like a tappety engine but a lot quieter and happier than it was before. The click adjust gets a thumbs up from me but shop around as prices seem to vary wildly!

Oct 5th, 2010, 16:48	#2
ALLOA Master Member Last Online: Apr 25th, 2024 16:21 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: ALLOA	Hi Tony, I've set up tappets with feeler gauges etc... and found the same as you. I guess that this could be due to 40 yrs wear! I tend to run the engine with the rocker off and then touch each rocker with the tip of my finger. You will feel what needs to be tightened. I know it doesn't sound very scientific but it does work. Scott

Oct 5th, 2010, 19:30	#3
capt jack VOC Member Last Online: Apr 20th, 2024 18:56 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Selby, North Yorkshire	Hi Tony Which engine does your car have? Cheers Jack

Oct 5th, 2010, 20:20	#4
Derek UK VOC Member Last Online: Yesterday 14:29 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chatham	Noise is normal. Be worried when they get quieter. If you find that the clearances get smaller it indicates that you are starting to get valve recession due to no lead. Now that you have them adjusted to a know clearance you can tell next time you check if that's got any worse. Maybe check after 3-5k miles. "Yes, they all sound like that Sir".

Oct 5th, 2010, 22:28	#5
asneddon Master Member Last Online: Nov 29th, 2021 23:46 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Dunedin	Also note that the head of the rocker can get worn. This turns them concave, so your feeler guage picks up the gap from the edge of the rocker to the top of the valve stem. You can file them flat again, or get a click-adjust type tool to set them.

Oct 6th, 2010, 11:23	#6
tonydgray Member Last Online: Feb 19th, 2024 11:19 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Atworth	Hi Capt Jack The engine is a B20A Cheers Tony

Oct 6th, 2010, 11:38	#7
tonydgray Member Last Online: Feb 19th, 2024 11:19 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Atworth	Thanks guys, a lot of information there to be going on with and some very interesting points. I will take a look at the wear situation and see if there is any issue there. I love the "Yes, they all sound like that Sir", made me chuckle. Half the battle is getting used to a new and the noises that it should and shouldn't make so thanks for that. ALLOA - I was wondering how can I tell the it needs to be tightened by touching the rocker while the engine is running? Lastly - does everyone run with lead replacement in their fuel or just run standard unleaded? Thanks again Tony

Oct 6th, 2010, 13:06	#8
capt jack VOC Member Last Online: Apr 20th, 2024 18:56 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Selby, North Yorkshire	Hi Tony I had an 1800ES with the B20E engine, and yes it was quite 'tappety', and yes, in my ignorance I tried to tighten things up, only to find that the gaps were already spot on. As a general observation, I found with my car that there were values according to the book - notably tappets, timing, points gap / dwell etc, and then there was what made the car run nicely. True to say that the one didn't generally match the other. I put it down to the joys of an old car, set things up where they 'felt right', and made regular checks. I think it's what they used to call 'tinkering' in the days before lap-tops and fuel maps! cheers Jack

Nov 5th, 2010, 10:55	#10
marcmarel Member Last Online: Mar 3rd, 2011 10:40 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Maasland	Interesting tool. Might give less difference between valves, but it still relies on a flat feel gauge. This might cause to much play in an engine with worn rocker arms (a slight hollow has been worn out), as asnedon mentioned. The idea is to grind the tip of the feeler gauge to the width of the valve stem, so it slides in the hollow and measures actual valve play.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)