I am looking at this thread, hoping to find the solution.
Zoltan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 2:20 PM
Subject: Re: Lifter adjustment VOODOO

> Maybe you need to check your oil pressure on the engine when cold. A
> jammed
> relief valve can cause the presure to go high enough to force the lifters
> open. The pressure should never go much above 60 psi. Weak vlave springs
> or
> missing inner springs can also be a problem. If the heads were rebuilt and
> the seats were cut, the springs need to be shimmed to compensate for what
> was cut off the seats or the valve faces if they were machined. Spring
> tension is critical. Being an air cooled engine it is also possiblle that
> an
> over heat condition also ruined the springs.
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
>>From: Jake Beaulieu <jake_beaulieu@YAHOO.COM>
>>Reply-To: Jake Beaulieu <jake_beaulieu@YAHOO.COM>
>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>Subject: Re: Lifter adjustment VOODOO
>>Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:06:01 -0700
>>
>>Yeah, this topic is giving me a headache.  I have an 82 AC Westy.  If I
>>set
>>the lifters to 0 clearance it runs "OK", but put it one or two turns in
>>and
>>it barely runs.  A couple weeks ago I measured the compression at 0
>>clearance, then set the lifters to +1 turn and let it sit for TWO weeks.
>>When the van first started after sitting for two weeks it ran great until
>>the oil pressure came up (5-10 seconds), then it just barely chugged
>>along.
>>  A compression test revealed that the compression had dropped from about
>>170 psi to 120 psi on all cylinders (I don't have the numbers in front of
>>me).  Backed the lifters out to 0 clearance again and compression jumped
>>back up to 170 and it ran "ok".
>>
>>   Since the van ran great at +1 turn until the oil pressure came up, I am
>>wondering if the valve springs are weak.  It is as if the oil pressure is
>>high enough to fill the lifters, then continue to pump up the lifters to
>>the point that they are compressing the valve springs and forcing the
>>valves open.  I don't know how one would go about measuring the strength
>>of
>>the valve springs?
>>
>>   jake
>>
>>Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET> wrote:
>>   The problem is that lots of times the engine won't run right if at all
>>when first set to either 1-1/2 or 2 turns. It can take time for full
>>lifters to bleed down a little. Turning in the screw on a lifter that is
>>fully expanded and filled with oil just opens the valve and then
>>compression can be low or even zero. Wait some hours or days and the
>>constant pressure from the valve spring will force some oil to escape
>>from the lifter and eventually things will be ok. This problem is why
>>over the years this topic has been so controversial here. A fully bled
>>lifter is too long at first because it has too much oil in it. Put that
>>lifter under tension from the adjuster screw and the oil won't compress
>>but the valve spring will and the valve will open. Left that way for a
>>while the constant pressure from the valve spring will eventually
>>squeeze some oil out, which is what is needed. Then when the engine is
>>started the lifters will pump back up but only to the right length.
>>
>>Mark
>>
>>
>>David Kao wrote:
>> > Officially it is supposed to be 2 turns. I have tried 1-1/2 and 2.
>> > All worked fine. The lifter self-adjusts. there is really no difference
>> > between 1-1/2 and 2.
>> >
>> > David
>> >
>> >
>> > --- Jake de Villiers wrote:
>> >
>> >> One of those guys has made his living rebuilding VW engines for a long
>>time
>> >> now.
>> >>
>> >> I'd go with his recommendation.
>> >>
>> >> On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 7:54 AM, Mike S wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> At 10:27 AM 4/30/2008, Chris S wrote...
>> >>>
>> >>> Although I'm getting ZERO messages from Gerry again, I'm hoping
>> >>>> knowledgeable folks will reply to me directly.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I'm confused about proper lifter adjustment. According to Bob Boston
>> >>>> I
>> >>>> should do 1.5 turns past contact. According to Ken Wilfy I should
>> >>>> just
>> >>>> leave the lifters set at first contact.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Sooo... what is it? And why?
>> >>>>
>> >>> 1 1/2 turns in from a fully expanded lifter. Because it allows the
>> >>> lifter to adjust itself in either direction. If you set it at "first
>> >>> contact," the lifter can't expand to adjust for a valvetrain which is
>> >>> getting looser.
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>
>>---------------------------------
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>>now.
>
>
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