The Ford Barn

bdtutton · 04-28-2020, 11:36 AM

Last year I had some burnt valves in my 1930 Tudor so I replaced all the valves and springs and carefully lapped them in. When I was adjusting the valves I remembered reading that Henry Ford always said "An engine that makes noise has more poise." so I adjusted the valves a little on the loose side of tolerance. It has been a year and several thousand miles since I replaced the valves and the engine runs great, but you can definitely hear the valves clattering away....

Once in a while I think about pulling the side cover and readjusting the valves to make them a bit quieter, but then I remember my grandfathers tractors that were worked hard, full of dirty oil and clattered away and never gave him any problems. Just wondering what the pros and cons are on this??

Thanks...Bryan

Jim/GA · 04-28-2020, 12:08 PM

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I actually like to hear a few valve lifters now and then when the engine is stone cold, to know that I have enough clearance.

But if you are still hearing a lot of them clicking when the engine is warmed up, it is worth your time to go through and adjust the looser ones up a bit tighter.

But if you decide not to, it won't really hurt anything.

How's that for an ambiguous answer?

04-28-2020, 11:36 AM	#1
bdtutton Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Southwest Michigan Posts: 113	Noisy lifters question Last year I had some burnt valves in my 1930 Tudor so I replaced all the valves and springs and carefully lapped them in. When I was adjusting the valves I remembered reading that Henry Ford always said "An engine that makes noise has more poise." so I adjusted the valves a little on the loose side of tolerance. It has been a year and several thousand miles since I replaced the valves and the engine runs great, but you can definitely hear the valves clattering away.... Once in a while I think about pulling the side cover and readjusting the valves to make them a bit quieter, but then I remember my grandfathers tractors that were worked hard, full of dirty oil and clattered away and never gave him any problems. Just wondering what the pros and cons are on this?? Thanks...Bryan

04-28-2020, 12:08 PM	#2
Jim/GA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Young Harris, GA Posts: 1,820	Re: Noisy lifters question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I actually like to hear a few valve lifters now and then when the engine is stone cold, to know that I have enough clearance. But if you are still hearing a lot of them clicking when the engine is warmed up, it is worth your time to go through and adjust the looser ones up a bit tighter. But if you decide not to, it won't really hurt anything. How's that for an ambiguous answer? __________________ Jim Cannon Former MAFCA Technical Director "Have a Model A day!"