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11-15-2020, 12:04 AM | #1 |
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Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
I've created a printable PDF with a diagram to assist with precise adjustment of valve clearances. This diagram is based on one created by FordBarn user Bob Johnson and shown in his video on valve adjusting.
As described on fordgarage.com, the tappet bolt spec is 24 threads per inch. This means that if you were to rotate the bolt 360° 24 times, it would change the clearance by 1". 24*360 = 8640° per 1-inch change. Therefore to change the clearance .001", or 1/1000 inches, you need to rotate the bolt 8640/1000 = 8.64°. The attached diagram shows lines marked on an arc in successive increments of 8.64°, each representing .001" difference in clearance from the next line. To adjust valve tappets using this diagram, you'll need to print it out and attach it to something rigid, like cardstock or cardboard. Cut a hole to center the diagram on the tappet. Measure your clearances as described on fordgarage.com above, and then, with the diagram in place, hold the tappet with one wrench while moving the adjusting wrench through the appropriate number of lines to get the clearance you want. See Bob's video for a demonstration. The PDF image is quite large in order to maximize the accuracy of the angles. You'll probably need to experiment with scaling it down to 80% or 60% to make it usable with your particular wrenches. |
11-15-2020, 12:34 AM | #2 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
This is very interesting, I have not seen this method before but will watch the video, print the image and a month or so down the road experiment. Thanks for sharing and taking the time to make the PDF.
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11-15-2020, 12:35 AM | #3 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Very interesting but I bet most would check with a feeler.
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11-15-2020, 12:49 AM | #4 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
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11-15-2020, 03:24 AM | #5 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
I do similar. If one turn is 1/24th of an inch (0.042"), then one face on the hexagonal adjuster is 1/6th of that (0.007"). It doesn't take long to learn how much to move the spanner to get 1 or 2 thou movement. I always check with feelers after every adjustment.
(If the motor is out of the car, it doesn't take long but with it in the car, it is a bear with a RHD car.)
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11-15-2020, 01:58 PM | #6 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
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11-16-2020, 12:10 PM | #7 | |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Quote:
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11-16-2020, 12:35 PM | #8 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Don't worry, if you decide you don't need to use this diagram, I will not be offended.
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11-16-2020, 02:34 PM | #9 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
I always just did it with two fielders gauges. One too big and one too small and adjust to go and not go. This one makes my head hurt.
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11-16-2020, 03:46 PM | #10 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
The two methods are very similar. They both use the pitch of the thread to work out how far to turn the adjustment. IMO, you have just taken it one step further with your diagram while I rely more on "feel".
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11-16-2020, 04:04 PM | #11 | |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Quote:
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11-16-2020, 04:29 PM | #12 | |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Quote:
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11-16-2020, 04:38 PM | #13 | |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Quote:
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11-19-2020, 02:26 AM | #14 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Hi alexiskai, would love to watch the video, but it appears the link may be broken?
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11-19-2020, 10:07 AM | #15 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
I just noticed that the video link was non-responsive. Can we have another link -or- connection? Thank You!!
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11-19-2020, 01:13 PM | #16 | ||
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Quote:
Quote:
http://www.modelahouse.com/movies/valves.wmv You can also go to the root page and click on "Valve adjusting": http://www.modelahouse.com/movies/index.html Once the file downloads, most folks should have a media player on their Mac/PC that'll run it. Last edited by alexiskai; 11-19-2020 at 02:12 PM. |
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12-25-2020, 08:35 PM | #17 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Following up, this is the setup that worked for me when adjusting my valve lash. I had to cut down the diagram a bit because of the size I printed it at; otherwise you can't get at the #1 and #8 valves. I spray-glued it to cardboard and then taped a thin wrench to the back. That wrench holds the tappet while the 1/2" wrench does the adjusting.
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12-25-2020, 10:48 PM | #18 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Thank you and Bob Johnson for sharing ! Soooo how did she run after adjusting the lash?
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12-25-2020, 10:57 PM | #19 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Doing valves this weekend, thanks for sharing!
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12-25-2020, 11:22 PM | #20 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
I learned this way of doing it from a post on the Model T Ford Club of America years ago, doing by thread count and degrees. Works very well. I also check with the feeler gauge to make sure it is good. Thanks for posting this. Great idea on the degrees gauge.
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12-27-2020, 05:08 AM | #21 | |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Quote:
This was my first ever time installing and adjusting valves. Before installing the new valves, I backed off all 8 adjustable tappets as far as they would go. Then I put in new valves, springs, retainers, and keepers (those keepers are a tremendous pain). Then I took my initial clearance measurements, which ranged from .028 to .068. Using this adjustment guide, I was able to adjust 3 of the 8 valves to the exact desired clearance on the first pass. The remaining 5 were all +/- .001" and I got all five to the desired clearance on the second pass. |
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12-27-2020, 09:39 AM | #22 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
a little grease on the keepers will hold them in place.
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12-27-2020, 10:13 AM | #23 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
I used axle grease. It was mostly a pain because I was using this valve spring tool. Required a buddy to hold the spring up for me and even then I had very little room to get the keepers onto the valve stem – particularly for the 1/2/7/8 valves in the corner.
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12-27-2020, 12:34 PM | #24 | |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Quote:
Thanks for the tip and thinking outside the box alexishai.
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01-03-2021, 11:06 AM | #25 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Thanks for the link to the printable timing tapes
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04-20-2022, 07:42 AM | #26 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
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i just cant get a "feel" for this. |
04-20-2022, 10:13 AM | #27 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
A regular feeler gauge is all one thickness, a go-no/go gauge has a small potion up the end of the gauge which is .001" or .002" thinner that the rest of the gauge.
https://www.wonkeedonkeetools.co.uk/...o-feeler-gauge
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12-18-2023, 01:47 PM | #28 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Newbie here - Okay, so the Go-No Go feeler has a smaller gauge section near the tip. How does this help?
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12-18-2023, 02:26 PM | #29 | |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Quote:
If the gauge stops there, you know that the gap distance is larger than the thin part but smaller than the thick part. If it goes all the way in, you know the gap is larger than the thick part, and if it doesn't go in at all, you know the gap is smaller than the thin part. The idea is that most clearances have a certain tolerance, e.g., .013-.015". A go/no-go gauge lets you quickly confirm that the clearance is somewhere within the tolerance without taking time to unnecessarily measure the clearance precisely. |
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12-18-2023, 10:50 PM | #30 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
After you have done it a few times you will learn to recognize by the amount of slop or resistance on the feeler gauge how close you are. Frankly, the Model A is pretty tolerant to minor (say +/- 0.001") variations from "spec", in fact, depending upon the wear in the camshaft or position of the crank there may be that much slop between where you measure and true minor diameter (where the lifter is completely down). I would not obsess about it.
My $0.02 and worth at least that.
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12-19-2023, 12:03 PM | #31 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Thank you both.
Someone said that having a Model A provides the perfect excuse to buy tools. Not that I need an excuse, but it makes choosing easier.
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12-24-2023, 11:23 AM | #32 |
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Re: Printable diagram for adjusting valve tappets
Looks good , think I will shrink it down print it and then laminate it .
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