Darrell Boehler wrote:
>
> Hi Bob,
>     Are you saying to allow 0.006 inch clearance with the lifter fully
> expanded??? Just want to be sure I read you clear on this.
> Darrell
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Bob Donalds <bostneng@FCL-US.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, December 20, 1999 7:26 AM
> Subject: Re: Valve adjustment
>
> > Shortlidge D Joel wrote:
> > >
> > >         What is the easiest way to adjust the valves of the wasser
> leaker?  What
> > > should I do if they still will not seat right?  They currently not
> making
> > > any valve clatter and I think they many be to tight.  What should my
> next
> > > course of action be if that does not get them to seal right?
> > >
> > > ___________________________________________________________________
> >
> > Joel
> >     I have gotten to the point that I am shipping all my rebuilt engines
> > with hydraulic lifters with the valves adjusted to .006ths clearance.
> > the reason for this is that when the new engines warms up with the
> > valves preloaded stay open causing low manifold vacuum and poor
> > performance. Hydraulic lifters are not bleeding down as expected. I now
> > tell my customers that they need to do a compression test before and
> > after the engine has had the the lifters preloaded and they preload at
> > there own risk! I have spoken with Greg at Gregs repair he reports
> > compression tests before and after backing off my customers preloaded
> > valve adjustment with gains of 20 pounds across the board.  There has
> > been no report of lifters failng because of valve adjuster lash
> > (clearance) my own van has run this way for 2 years. Its not clear why
> > this is happening but I have an article posted at my web site that goes
> > into more detail. I have personaly backed off the adjusters for the
> > editor of the vanagon manual and cured his low vacuum and low
> > compression readings in his own vanagon.
> >
> > Bentley says
> >        Bentley gets its info from VW and passes it along without passing
> > > jugdement they have told me they do not feel free to modify thats been
> > > handed to them without a tech bulletin to back it up even when I have
> > > proven to them that there is a better way
> >
> >       I spoke to Ken at vanagain he told me he had heard of meet or show
> > where someone tested the vacuum readings of all the vanagons that showed
> > up and they all had low manifold vacuum can anybody else report on that?
> >
> >       while we are on the subject valves I hear that there are sodium
> > valve for sale but the only valves I have found listed are stelite faced
> > they do have an S next to the part number these may be mistaken for
> > sodium any leads, part numbers and phone numbers
> >
> > Bob Donalds
> > http://www.bostonengine.com
> >
 Hi Darrell
thats correct .006ths clearance on all my hydraulic engines when they
leave my shop
 this problem has not shown up when I preloaded the lifters and spun the
engines to make oil pressure on the engine stand. Be clear that just
touching 0 valve clearance can cause the same valve staying open problem
when the engine warms up. after the engine has run a couple of weeks and
after doing a compression test try preloading 1/4 turn thats all thats
needed and that may be much for some lifters. also test the compression
afterwards but wait a day or so for the lifters to self adjust. dont
forget to do the compression test under the same conditions a warm not
hot engine is best.

follow the tech article on adjusting hydraulic lifters on my page the
only thing I have added to that is the compression tests.

I got the ecu and tool you sent it looks great I have not used it yet
and will report when I have

Bob Donalds
http://www.bostonengine.com