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Valve on 1275

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Woodie

Woodie

Jedi Warrior
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I am planning on adjusting the valves on Sparky. I have never done this before so am looking for the correct way to do this. I haveread that it takes only 20-30 minutes..so please guys how is this done....

and thanks
 
It's not bad, but helps to have a second person. If you have a service manual, there's a specific order so you look for one valve to be fully open, and you adjust a different valve. Something like when the #1 valve (the one at the very front) is open, you adjust #8 (the one at the very back), but there's an order to it so you only have to turn the engine forward slightly for each valve. Jacking ONE of the rear wheels and putting it in 4th gear is an easy way to turn the engine forward. Just turn the wheel forward, and it takes little effort. That's where it helps to have somebody turning the wheel as you look for the right valve to open fully. Then it's just a matter of slipping the feeler gauge into the valve being adjusted. Loosen the locknut with a box wrench, and use a big flat screwdriver to turn the adjuster. Hold the adjuster with the screwdriver as you tighten the locknut, and re-check the valve lash after it's tight. You'll get the hang of it; it's just a little tricky to keep the adjuster from moving. Better to be on the loose side than the tight side; noisy valves are better than having burnt valves.

Good luck!
 
I leave the car in gear and roll it back. I usually check/replace my plugs at the same time so that it is easier to turn the engine, and it could not accidentally start (not that you would leave the ignition on).
 
With the spark plugs in, there are really only 4 generally different positions the engine will easily be in. That would be when one cylinder is compressing and another cylinder is decompressing. (Assuming you stopped the engine when it was running, or just turning around, it wouldn't be firing on any of the cylinders).

If it stops with cyl#1 compressing, that would mean cyl#4 is exhausting. Concequently #4 exhaust valve would be open. Given the standard firing order used 1342, that would mean that cyl3 (being earlier in the firing order) is taking air in. (Air is taken in just after the exhaust is expelled. A cylinder earlier in the firing order would already be there). Therefore #3 inlet valve is also open.

When #4 exhaust and #3 inlet are open, adjust #1 exhaust and #2 inlet.

This is all too complicated!

Just remember that when the engine is stopped, (any of the 4 positions) two valves are open. Adjust the "opposite" valves (as though they were reflected in a mirror placed corssways between the two middle cylinders).

Open - Adjust
#1 - - #8
#3 - - #6

#2 - - #7
#5 - - #4

#8 - - #1
#6 - - #3

#7 - - #2
#4 - - #5
 
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