post-valve adjustment question

[mkcman17]

did a valve adjustment yesterday, and i'm afraid that i may have done them too tight. i measured them with considerable drag to .010 on a not-completely-cold motor that had been sitting for a couple hours. am i aight? don't want to be burning any valves.

[jlevie]

If the head temperature was below 100F, you should be okay.

On a race engine with known good valve guides I set the intakes to .006 and the exhausts to .008 (stone cold). I won't use clearances that tight on a higher mileage head that has worn guides, but it does give you some idea of how far you can go a still not burn exhaust valves.

The best, and easiest/quickest, way to adjust valves is to invest in a spring tool for the eccentrics. That removes an subjective qualities from setting valve clearance. BavAuto is one source for the tool.

[mkcman17]

thanks for the info! any more you can tell me about the tool?

[Avus E30]

I looked at it on pelican and it looks to me to be essentially the a spring to make the tension on the "allen" the same. with an allen on two ends of a spring.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=TOL-3013&catalog_description=Valve%20Adjuster%2C%20All%20BMW%20Engines%20with%20Eccentric%20Style%20Valve%20Adjustment%2C%20Each

[mkcman17]

i see...i'm guessing we're looking at this:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=TOL-3013&catalog_description=Valve%20Adjuster,%20All%20BMW%20Engines%20with%20Eccentric%20Style%20Valve%20Adjustment,%20Each%20%20

so the spring offers the proper amount of torque?

[Avus E30]

thats what it appears like to me. I imagine someone may chime in to confirm

[lennon]

you guys have got it about the tool. not too necessary but definitely makes it easier. i set them to .008 and .010 usually. if in doubt, go towards the loose side, especially on the exhaust. i would let it cool longer than that. is that .010 on both, intake or exhaust?

[mkcman17]

you guys have got it about the tool. not too necessary but definitely makes it easier. i set them to .008 and .010 usually. if in doubt, go towards the loose side, especially on the exhaust. i would let it cool longer than that. is that .010 on both, intake or exhaust?

yeah it was cooled probably 2 hours, and the engine was definitely not 'cold.' i set them to a tight .010 at that temp. valves are pretty quiet, but i'm thinking i should re-adjust them again completely cold?

[lennon]

yeah it was cooled probably 2 hours, and the engine was definitely not 'cold.' i set them to a tight .010 at that temp. valves are pretty quiet, but i'm thinking i should re-adjust them again completely cold?

i would. just so you know. it's not too hard to get the valve cover back off. i like to let it cool like 8 hours, overnight or something.

[nando]

I would just check it with the engine cold, you don't have to readjust everything. just make sure the exhausts aren't too tight.

[slammin.e28]

overnight

I've been known to get up before work and adjust them in the morning....but that's just me.