Ken, your story describes exactly how I was when I first encountered this phenomenon some time ago.  But, through the good folks on this list, and their "hand holding," I learned that the behavior is normal.  It was just when you mentioned the valve adjustment difficulty that I thought, hmmm... .  But I thought I knew that all was well.  Thanks for the reassurance.

mcneely

---- Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote:
> What you are describing is normal Vanagon lifter noise at start up.
> While it can be scarey to a Vanagon newb it is normal and after a while
> most folks just get used to it.
>
> I have had several new owners call me in panic mode because they left
> their van sit for a few days and then started it up to hear the very
> loud clacking noise of the collapsed lifter.  They want to have the van
> towed to my shop directly.  I tell them to calm down, drive the van
> around for about 30 mins and then call me back.  They call me back and
> are happy they had someone to hold their hand and tell them that it was
> going to be "OK".  :-)
>
> --
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
> Phone: 856-327-4936
> Fax: 856-327-2242
>
> On 3/6/2012 12:47 PM, Dave Mcneely wrote:
> >> 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
> >
>

--
David McNeely