> At 09:50 AM 3/6/2012, Ken Wilford wrote:
> >Here is a typical call, "My van idles funny."  I ask, "Did this start
> >after you had some head work done?"  Customer thinks I am clairvoyant.
> >I tell them to adjust the valves to zero lash and see if this helps.
> >They email me a few days later saying the problem is gone and the van is
> >running better than ever.  If you have a little clacking adjust it to
> >half a turn preload and you should be good to go.

This confuses me a bit.  My '91 waterboxer has "a little clacking" on startup, especially if it has sat for a couple of weeks (I try to get it out and drive it a bit at least that often to keep up with what might go wrong, and keep it running).  It is my understanding that that is not a problem, since the lifters fill and the noise stops.  I let it idle until that happens.

Are you saying that that indicates the valves are out of adjustment?  It runs very well, and gets around 20 mpg at highway running (usually 60 mph).

mcneely