Valve Adjustment

[fjrpierre]

damn all this talk about valve adjustments! I just bought the tool off ebay and while I was on a roll I also bought a carbtune (sick of borrowing one!) So when all this stuff arrives I'll be diving into Sweet-things' innards again! 

[Scooterbob]

damn all this talk about valve adjustments! I just bought the tool off ebay and while I was on a roll I also bought a carbtune (sick of borrowing one!) So when all this stuff arrives I'll be diving into Sweet-things' innards again! 

Valve Adjustment - The inevitable journey.

[fjrpierre]

Valve adjustment Day 1: I have the manual, the tool, a piece of cake eh? 

question #1 The manuel shows how by turning CCW, to align the T mark on the timing plate to the pointer on the stationary coil so that piston is TDC. I measure no 1 cyl ex and intake  clearances of < 0.04mm for each. So now it says measure clearances for Nos 2, then 4 and then 3 cyl in sequence.

What do I align to get TDC for Cyl #2? Do I just rotate it CCW another 90 degrees so that the pointer aligns with the next tab (the top one in the picture), and another 90 degree for Cyl 4 , then a final 90 degree for cyl 3?

[racerman_27410]

I usually just rotate the crank until the cam lobes match the position for valves closed.


Kookaloo!

Frank

[Marsh White]

I don't go by those marks.  I actually measure TDC with a metal rod down the spark plug hole and watch the tip of it as I SLOWLY raise it up to TDC.  I use the metal rod from the FJ toolkit that goes into the sparkplug socket.  Does it actually matter if you are off a touch on TDC?  I don't know...but at least I KNOW that my TDC is actually TDC!

Oh, DON'T try this with a wooden pencil...DAMHIK!!   

[simi_ed]

If #1 is ~TDC, both the cam lobes will be away from the followers.  After checking #1, rotate crank 180º then check #2.  Rotate another 180º, check #4 then another 180º and check #3.  As long as the cam lobes are off the followers, you'll be OK.

[fjrpierre]

Thank you gentlemen

so I rotate 180 degrees not 90!

(that's a relief; I could not see myself willingly sticking anything in the spark plug hole    )

[Yamifj1200]

Thank you gentlemen

so I rotate 180 degrees not 90!

(that's a relief; I could not see myself willingly sticking anything in the spark plug hole    )

Pierre. just make sure the base circle of the cam is over the shim when taking your measurments and you will be fine... The base circle is 180 degrees from the lobe.

Eric M

[fjrpierre]

Well After a rocky start, I got it together today with your help and measured all the clearances. Four exhaust valves (cyl 1 & 4) and two intake valves (cyl 2) were off. On checking the existing shims, I can reuse 3 shims and need 3. Will get on that tomorrow. (I now learned a whole new langauge of lifters, lobs, slits, cams, ...)

[Marsh White]

(that's a relief; I could not see myself willingly sticking anything in the spark plug hole    )

Glad you got it figured out!  However - in my defense - I have been doing valves this way on 3 FJs for 7+ years now with no problems.  It's not that scary once you do it once...it easily takes any guesswork out of making sure you are at TDC...FWIW...

[fjrpierre]

Sorry Marsh I didn't mean to seem ungrateful for your advice, it's just that bad things seem to happen to me around such areas. It's like I have a "black hole" curse and everything gets sucked in there never to be found again. 

[fjrpierre]

Just to close my little valve adjustment saga, I had six off and could swap 3 and needed 3. RubarbRay had the missing shims in his extensive collection (half sizes even), and a digital caliper and we completed the adjustment. I buttoned everything up and with the carbs reinstalled, and throttle cables lubed, let her idle for a while. Had a small leak in a corner of the valve cover which I successfully patched with gasket sealant. Did a carb syn again and took it out for a long run.  

The combo of freeing up throttle cable, valve adjust, carb cleaning and carb syn gave some excellent results. Next step is another attempt at freeing up the motor mounts...after Boone; that should further reduce the vibration in the lower gears significantly.
      
                        
these were my readings after over 100k km of no adjustments.
                 
exhaust   spec 0.16~0.20
measured 0.13 0.13 ; 0.17 0.17 ; 0.17 0.19 ; 0.11 0.09

intake spec 0.11~0.15
measured 0.12 0.12; 0.06 0.08 ;0.11 0.11 ;0.11 0.11
                 

[Bob]

...
The combo of freeing up throttle cable, valve adjust, carb cleaning and carb syn gave some excellent results. Next step is another attempt at freeing up the motor mounts...after Boone; that should further reduce the vibration in the lower gears significantly.
...

I went through the same sequence, and freeing up my seized engine mounts made the biggest difference.  I suspect you'll be really pleased with the change.

[Scooterbob]

Finally!!!     I have completed my valve adjustment/check.  It wasn't a bad job overall.  Just the unknown of doing it the first time.  I had the great company of "FJ1200X2" to assist in the task.  Between the two of us, we worked out all of the questions as they came up.  I am by no means an expert now, but I can confidently make future checks/adjustments without hesitation.
Thanks to all that contributed.

[Pat Conlon]

Finally!!!     I have completed my valve adjustment/check...... Thanks to all that contributed."

Yea, are these guys great or what?  Gotta love this forum.