• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

valve adjustment

Share this page

Woodie

Woodie

Jedi Warrior
Offline
Ok I just adjusted the valves on Sparky. I have had the car for three yrs, this is the first time adjusting valves. Way easier than I thought. I followed John Twists video, but used the 12 thou per the manual and not his 15 thou and did it cold. Some were a bit loose, maybe 13 or 14 thou but I did not measure. I did them all twice to make sure. Now there seems to be a knock from #7 or 8. Is a knock because they are too loose or too tight. The car runs great.
 
Here's a wild guess:

The looser the valves, the longer they stay in contact with the head, and the more heat they dissipate. Tighter valves stay open longer, retaining more heat, and raising the chamber temp until the cylinder detonates. So, I'd say, valves too tight.

...Anyone think I'm close on that?
 
I did mine for the first time the other day too. Quieted the motor down quite a bit. I had some that were a bit loose but #1,2 were both too tight. I can't drive yet though to test, still waiting on (another) master cylinder rebuild kit.
 
Have you checked the timing since you did the valves? .. The looseness of the valves may have masked the timing being off?...
 
AHA Timing,, ok thats tomorrows check... getting dark now and no garage to work in..Hope it is not far off, car is idling at 750 nice and steady... not much noise maybe Im just paranoid cause I never did valves before
 
Typical tune up order .. gap the plugs, adjust the valves, gap the points, set the timing, warm it up really good, then adjust the carbs. Carbs always LAST on the list.
 
Back
Top