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Subject:Re: Help!, Something funny with Valve adjustment
From:Stan Wilder
Date:Wed, 6 Nov 2002 22:06:16 -0600

Using Boston Bobs Method: After you adjust the valves using the .006 you
should be able to get the feeler gage into the opening.
Theory being that heat is going to expand the valve stem .006 and close
the opening when its warm.
Using Tom Wilsons Method (Stan's page): Using the one turn after the
adjusting screw just touching the valve stem is a little bit of pre-load
on the hydraulic lifters.
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True that you could have some air in the lifter but it normally pushes on
out as the engine oil pressurizes the system.
The lifters have a spring in them but you're not compressing it using
Bobs method.
Using the Tom Wilson Method you are compressing the spring in the lifter
just slightly.
Sometimes the push rod doesn't seat properly in the lifter socket, it
will seat itself after a little use, you'll hear it snap into place
(sounds like something just broke). This event means you need to readjust
the valves again.
It often takes ten minutes for the lifters and valve train to quieten
after adjustments.
The law of averages says one or more lifters will drain overnight because
one of them is going to stop with the fill hole in the down position.
If you have good oil pressure your lifters should get quiet in less than
a minute.
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Then the ringer! Do you have aluminum push rods? If you do you've got
solid lifters and they adjust differently.
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Lifters can go bad on old engines.

Stan Wilder

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