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You're Doing It Wrong! Valve Setting 101
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You're Doing It Wrong! Valve Setting 101

Understanding Valve Clearance in Overhead Valve Engines

Introduction to Valve Clearance

  • The video discusses valve clearance on overhead valve and flathead engines, addressing confusion due to conflicting information online.
  • Various cylinder heads from different engine manufacturers are presented to illustrate the differences in valve clearance adjustments.

Importance of Valve Clearance

  • Proper valve clearance is crucial; excessive clearance can prevent the compression release mechanism from functioning correctly, leading to hard starting issues.
  • A detailed explanation of how a compression release works: when the engine starts, centrifugal force allows a weight to disengage the valve bumping mechanism.

Effects of Temperature on Valve Clearance

  • As engines heat up, components expand. Lack of sufficient valve clearance can lead to valves being held open, resulting in loss of compression.
  • Wear on the face of the valve can also reduce clearance over time, necessitating adjustments or replacements.

Adjusting Valve Clearance

  • The process for adjusting valve clearance involves bringing the piston to top dead center with both valves closed; however, this can be challenging with overhead engines.
  • An alternative method is suggested: adjust when one valve is fully open as it relieves tension on its counterpart, simplifying the adjustment process.

How to Set Valve Clearance in Engines

Understanding Top Dead Center and Valve Adjustment

  • The process of finding top dead center (TDC) involves cranking the motor until one valve is open, allowing for easier adjustment of the opposite valve.
  • To accurately determine TDC with both valves closed, remove the spark plug and use a tool to gauge its position; however, this method can be cumbersome compared to simply observing valve positions.
  • A camshaft's lobes dictate valve movement; when one valve is fully open, the opposing lobe ensures that there’s no tension on the other side, facilitating proper clearance measurement.

Overlap Concerns in Four-Cycle Engines

  • When setting valves on flathead engines, overlap occurs at TDC where both valves may be slightly open; this complicates adjustments as it can lead to confusion about which valve is in which position.
  • For flatheads or overhead valves, removing the head may be necessary to access and adjust valves properly while ensuring they are at TDC.

Achieving Proper Valve Clearance

  • At TDC with both valves closed, clearance must be measured correctly; if not enough clearance exists, grinding off part of the valve stem may be required for proper adjustment.
  • Some older engines feature adjustable screws on lifters for easier clearance adjustments without needing extensive disassembly.

Importance of Specific Valve Clearances

  • Different engines have varying specifications for valve clearances; typically around 0.004 inches but can differ based on engine design and intended use.
  • Exhaust valves often require more clearance due to thermal expansion from higher temperatures during operation compared to intake valves.

Identifying Hydraulic Lifters vs. Adjustable Lifters

  • Many modern engines utilize hydraulic lifters that do not require manual adjustment; identifying these involves checking for visible adjusting mechanisms like jam nuts or set screws.
  • In contrast, engines with adjustable lifters will have identifiable components allowing users to set their own clearances easily.

Steps for Setting Valve Clearance

  • Begin by turning the motor until one valve is open; then measure using a feeler gauge (typically 0.004 inches), adjusting until snug before tightening any locking mechanisms.
  • Repeat this process for each side of the engine as needed while ensuring all adjustments maintain appropriate specifications throughout.

How to Adjust Valve Clearance Using an Eccentric Mechanism

Understanding the Eccentric Adjustment Method

  • The eccentric mechanism allows for easy adjustment of valve clearance by loosening a nut and turning a screw, simplifying the process compared to traditional methods.
  • Once the desired position is achieved (4,000 RPM), the nut can be tightened to secure the adjustment without needing constant readjustment.
  • This method eliminates complications associated with lock nuts that often require multiple adjustments to achieve proper clearance.
  • The speaker emphasizes that this technique reduces back-and-forth adjustments typically needed in other methods, making it more efficient.
  • The simplicity of this eccentric method has proven reliable over years of use, with no reported issues regarding valve misadjustments.

Practical Application and Benefits

  • The speaker explains how understanding the mechanics behind this method makes it intuitive and straightforward for users.
  • Key points include recognizing high and low spots on the camshaft lobe during adjustments to avoid overlap issues when setting valves.

Additional Information

  • A brief promotion for merchandise is included, highlighting various products available on their web store, including shirts with patches.
  • Social media platforms are mentioned as avenues for following updates related to valve settings and other content.
Video description

In this video I go over a common but crucial task when working on small engines. Setting valves. There's lots of different types of valves from adjustable to hydraulic lifters so I go over the most common ones and how to set them and also why it's important and how it works. We went pretty thorough on this one to give you a good idea how to do the job right. Be sure to share this video with someone you know especially if they're just starting out in the field. And as always... There's Your Dinner!! BLACK FRIDAY - CYBER MONDAY SALE GOING TIL 12/2! Use code: BLACKFRIDAY at checkout http://www.TARYLFIXESALL.com Subscribe Today for all the latest videos! (Click 'Subscribe' on this channel!) TFA Skits Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@tarylfixesallskits FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/tarylfixesall INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/tarylfixesall TIK TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@taryl.fixes.all MERCH: http://www.TARYLFIXESALL.com THEME MUSIC: https://tarylfixesall.bigcartel.com/product/grass-rats-garage-the-album-audio-cd Get Your Parts From http://www.ProPartsDirect.net and Tell 'em "Taryl Sent Me!" **NOTE: This repair and any repair shown in these videos are to be done at your own risk. The information in this video is for entertainment purposes only and is not guaranteed to be accurate. Taryl assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this video. The information contained in this site is provided on an "as is" basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.