Date:         Mon, 20 Dec 1999 08:26:51 -0500
Reply-To:     Bob Donalds <bostneng@FCL-US.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bob Donalds <bostneng@FCL-US.NET>
Organization: Boston Engine Exchange
Subject:      Re: Valve adjustment
Comments: To: Shortlidge D Joel <shortlid@JUNO.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Shortlidge D Joel wrote:
>
>         What is the easiest way to adjust the valves of the wasser leaker?  What
> should I do if they still will not seat right?  They currently not making
> any valve clatter and I think they many be to tight.  What should my next
> course of action be if that does not get them to seal right?
>
> ___________________________________________________________________

Joel
    I have gotten to the point that I am shipping all my rebuilt engines
with hydraulic lifters with the valves adjusted to .006ths clearance.
the reason for this is that when the new engines warms up with the
valves preloaded stay open causing low manifold vacuum and poor
performance. Hydraulic lifters are not bleeding down as expected. I now
tell my customers that they need to do a compression test before and
after the engine has had the the lifters preloaded and they preload at
there own risk! I have spoken with Greg at Gregs repair he reports
compression tests before and after backing off my customers preloaded
valve adjustment with gains of 20 pounds across the board.  There has
been no report of lifters failng because of valve adjuster lash
(clearance) my own van has run this way for 2 years. Its not clear why
this is happening but I have an article posted at my web site that goes
into more detail. I have personaly backed off the adjusters for the
editor of the vanagon manual and cured his low vacuum and low
compression readings in his own vanagon.

Bentley says
       Bentley gets its info from VW and passes it along without passing
> jugdement they have told me they do not feel free to modify thats been
> handed to them without a tech bulletin to back it up even when I have
> proven to them that there is a better way

      I spoke to Ken at vanagain he told me he had heard of meet or show
where someone tested the vacuum readings of all the vanagons that showed
up and they all had low manifold vacuum can anybody else report on that?

      while we are on the subject valves I hear that there are sodium
valve for sale but the only valves I have found listed are stelite faced
they do have an S next to the part number these may be mistaken for
sodium any leads, part numbers and phone numbers

Bob Donalds
http://www.bostonengine.com