The Bentley manual says:
-Arrange mark on distributor to #1 cylinder (and crank to TDC which is the
indentation mark on crank pulley).
-Adjust both adjusters all the way out, then turn in until the adjuster just
touches the valve stem.  At that point, turn adjuster in 2 turns and lock
with nut.
-turn crank 180 degrees counter-clockwise and repeat procedure for #2
cylinder.
-turn crank 180 degrees counter-clockwise and repeat procedure for #3
cylinder.
-turn crank 180 degrees counter-clockwise and repeat procedure for #4
cylinder.
-reassemble everything and start motor.  At this point the motor may run a
little rough for a few minutes until the lifters readjust themselves to the
correct "lash".
Hope this helps...that how I do mine.

Karl Batzler
84 Vanagon
87 Audi 5000 S
La Quinta, CA

-----Original Message-----
From: James, Daniel <daniel.james@INTEL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Friday, February 19, 1999 11:39 AM
Subject: '83 wasserboxer - valve adjustment advice?

>Volks,
>
>An unsettling lack o'compression in cylinder #3 has me investigating the
>procedure for adjusting valves. (BTW - the PO had the heads done some miles
>ago).
>
>A leakage test shows no leakage in cylinder # 3, but it intermittently
reads
>low on compression
>
>Reading the Bentley manual, there doesn't appear to be any specs on valve
>clearance (adjusting valves and measuring gap w/ feeler gauge, e.g)  All I
>can find is a description in the section on assembling heads where it says
>something like "at TDC, back all adjusting screws so they're flush w/
Rocker
>arm, then turn them til they're tight up against (pushrod?) then back them
>up (or sock them down) some fixed # of turns".
>
>Any advice?  It seems like there should be some specs that I need to adjust
>the valves to...
>
>Daniel James