Adjusting valves questionIt is past time for me to do a valve lash adjustment.

[model 10]

On OHV engines like in a boat, the most accurate way to set the valves is with the engine running. There is even a fancy Snap On tool for doing this if you don't like using a feeler gage. It might sound scary or a mess to some but it's not at all. However it's probably not worth the heat stroke either.

[Pete7]

Oh god no, there will be oil everywhere and a boat engine space is completely different to having the bonnet (hood) up on a car, with limited tight spaces.

How long does it take to adjust 6 or 8 valves on a cold engine with a feeler gauge? If the oil is changed regularly then its not even an annual process. I have done it once in 9 years.

Pete

[a64pilot]

Adjusting when running is the way you did hydraulic adjusters on GM engines of old, you would slowly turn them in until the clicking stopped, then one half more turn, that in theory out the lifters in the middle of their adjustment range.
To help quell the mess, you put "slopper stoppers" in the end of each push rod.

[model 10]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

To help quell the mess, you put "slopper stoppers" in the end of each push rod.

There is no visible oil spraying around at idle when you run a Perkins with the cover off. There is a well in the head casting around the gasket surface too, so there is no oil running over things either. V-8's are a mess.
Those who say it's just 6 or 8 valves must not double check their work. The only valves you can check just once are those with hyd lifers. With that it's just a go no go measurment, no need to do more.

[a64pilot]

Some engines oil thru the head itself and the oil goes down a tube that mounts the rocker arms, usually. Some engines like the GM V8's oil thru the push rod tubes as they are individually mounted on studs, the oil goes thru the tubes and out a hole in the rocker arm, since the rocker arm is rocking around, it will make quite a mess. Slopper stoppers were nothing more than a short piece of wire with a head on it, you put them into the hole in the rocker arm and it stopped excess oil, never tried it, but bet a cotter pin would work.
I have never heard of adjusting solid lifters when running, old hot rod trick was to run the snot out of an engine and get it as hot as possible, then quickly adjust the lash to zero clearance, theory was to maximize the lift that way, surely a pointless endeavor as a few thou one way or the other won't make much difference, and for our Diesels would be pure folly.
I'd be interested in hearing how you adjust solids when running, the GM rocker arms had a big nut in the middle so that it didn't move with the rocker arm, the adjusting nut like on a Yanmar would be tough to adjust when running as it's moving with the rocker of course.

[model 10]

The feeler gage slips in no problem. It's really no different. The snap on tool has a reed thing with a dial indicator.