[TR] More on valve adjusting

[Wayne Lee]

I too have been adjusting valves with the engine running for years, though 
mostly as a secondary process after the static settings retained a noisy 
clearance somewhere. While growing up at our family's Rootes Group, Rover, 
Saab and NSU new car dealership I witnessed my father doing it all the time 
without any Stethoscope, Rubber Hoses,Splash shields etc. As long as the 
Feeler Gauge is still sliding You develop a feel for a proper clearance with 
the Feeler Gauge. I only do it now following a static adjustment that didn't 
resolve a noisy clearance. It's great for isolating the noisy Rocker. And, 
you can always confirm with the engine off and another check. I can't 
imagine getting a very precise gap by over tightening, then backing off 
audibly, there's too many variables to compensate for like a worn Rocker 
Shaft etc. I just recently went through this process on my TR6, and I have 
the Aux Oil Feed with a Petcock off of my Oil Pressure outlet, and it was no 
problem even though it was open. You can really see how the Head gets over 
fed with Oil and I back off the Tap while it's running. I'm thinking of 
putting a pressure gauge on the outlet side of the Sender Unit feed to mark 
my preferred setting, but haven't gotten one yet. Maybe the next time I have 
it off.
Cheers,
Wayne Lee
Douglas,MA
58 TR3 (project)
64 TR4 (project)
75 TR6 (daily driver)
64 Land Rover 109 Pickup
65 Land Rover 109 3-Door
65 Rolls Silver Cloud III
Lola T598 #10



> I've been adjusting my TR6's valves with the engine running for years.


> Of course, now I am using an auxiliary feed and beginning to think of
> removing it do to the large amount of oil escaping the valve cover via
> the breathing pipe. Makes the car smelly too.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Mark
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: triumphs-bounces+mhooper=digiscreen.ca at autox.team.net
> [mailto:triumphs-bounces+mhooper=digiscreen.ca at autox.team.net] On Behalf
> Of Randall
> Sent: August 27, 2007 11:12 PM
> To: triumphs at autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: [TR] More on valve adjusting
>
>> But I
>> remember years ago (okay, decades ago) watching someone
>> adjusting valves while the engine was running.
>
> Indeed, that was the accepted method on some V8's.  The adjustment was
> on
> the pivot (so didn't jump around like a Triumph's adjustment will); and
> the
> proper adjustment was to back off the nut until the valve clattered
> (indicating the hydraulic lifter was at the end of it's travel), then
> tighten it some specified number of turns.
>
>> IIRC it wasn't even too messy.
>
> There were special clips you could buy to temporarily block off the oil
> holes, but most people just let it fly.
>
> Randall