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solidaxle · 09-23-2022, 08:28 AM

No, you don't have to have the heads off to adjust the valves. You do need to find TDC of #1 piston to use the Cheater tool. This can be accomplished with the tie wrap method. Search True TDC. Mart has a video on it also.

To adjust the valves, search YouTube for Johnson lifter tool adjustment. This gives a good explanation on how it's done.The video fails to mention you have to rotate the cam and have both lifters down in the bores to use the Johnson tool. Once you turn the adjuster bolt, you rotate the cam back to your designated lifter and check the gap.

Loose lifters usually make noise at idle. I would investigate other culprits before going through the time consuming task of valve adjustment. Search around with a hose to your ear or stethoscope type of tool looking for a tick first.
Do you have a torque tube driveshaft? If so, the coupler pin can break and work it's way out hitting the tube. This creates a ticking noise also. Jack up the rear and put your ear to the back part of the torque tube while rotating the tires and see if it ticks.

09-23-2022, 08:28 AM	#5
solidaxle Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: upstate NY Posts: 538	Re: Check valve clearance and adjust valve No, you don't have to have the heads off to adjust the valves. You do need to find TDC of #1 piston to use the Cheater tool. This can be accomplished with the tie wrap method. Search True TDC. Mart has a video on it also. To adjust the valves, search YouTube for Johnson lifter tool adjustment. This gives a good explanation on how it's done.The video fails to mention you have to rotate the cam and have both lifters down in the bores to use the Johnson tool. Once you turn the adjuster bolt, you rotate the cam back to your designated lifter and check the gap. Loose lifters usually make noise at idle. I would investigate other culprits before going through the time consuming task of valve adjustment. Search around with a hose to your ear or stethoscope type of tool looking for a tick first. Do you have a torque tube driveshaft? If so, the coupler pin can break and work it's way out hitting the tube. This creates a ticking noise also. Jack up the rear and put your ear to the back part of the torque tube while rotating the tires and see if it ticks. Last edited by solidaxle; 09-23-2022 at 08:45 AM.