[Mgs] Adjusting valves- cold or hot

[Paul Hunt]

Personally I've always used cold as it's stable, if set hot it's cooling 
down all the while, although I've no idea what practical difference that 
makes.  It does help the hands if doing it in the winter, but then I do mine 
in warmer weather anyway.  It also depends on whether you are simply 
checking them, or having to adjust them, the latter can take significantly 
longer hence the cooling will be greater.

One time when you should definitely *not* do it hot is if you remove the 
plugs to make turning the engine easier and have an alloy head, as that can 
bugger the threads.

PaulH.

----- Original Message ----- 
> The specification page on my Haynes manual gives two numbers for the valve
> clearance: 0.015" cold and 0.013" hot.  On my '80 B, I have been setting 
> the
> valves hot for the past 20 years/70k miles.  How much difference would it
> actually make if I set the cold?