rocker arm clearances....

[sliding 2.9 89]

i'm doing a valve adjustment on my truck and lost my book. please help

 

[AllanD]

WHY are you adjusting your valves?

AD

 

[sliding 2.9 89]

its more the rocker arms and push rods. i was told that after reassembly that you should readjust the rockerarms after 500 miles. i also have been hearing some ticking coming from the rockers. apon closer inspection a couple of the push rods are lose enough that i can spin them with my fingers. i would like to kno how the push rods are saposta feel.

 

[Big Jim M]

I never have adjusted rockers without the engine RUNNING! Start it and if you hear a click then place your hand on the rockers till you find the clicking one..yes it is easy, then tighten that one till it shuts up.. if more clicks keep feeling, and tighten them some... It can get messy!
For my Chevys I used to cut a portion of the top of a cover out so most of the oil would be trapped and not squirting around the shop.
With the engine stopped it is normal for some pushrods to APPEAR looser than others.
Big JIm

 

[AllanD]

The 2.9 doesn't feed oil through the pushrods so the oil that will be releases will all come from the rocker arm spit hole.

The reason I asked was that one of the more common causes
of cracked rocker towers (heads) is from people trying to "adjust away"
an oil pressure problem.

AD

 

[Psychopete]

I never have adjusted rockers without the engine RUNNING!

Jim, it's isn't very (at all) feasible to do this with the engine running. I couldn't imagine trying to hang on to the ratchet on the end of the rocker arm with the engine running. Not to mention it makes a HUGE mess running the engine with the valve covers off. Oil squirts out like a cut artery.

2.9L V6 Valve Lash Adjustment
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/2_9_HeadSwap.html

2.8Ls need adjustment because they have solid lifters. 2.9L will never need readjustment if set correctly the first time.

I had a fun time w/ mine after rebuild, good luck.

Pete

 

[Big Jim M]

Pete After a rebuild, mismatched parts are introduced to one another. The fit between the lifter and the used rod and the rod and the new to itself rocker tends to wear more quickly than new ones would wear.

During the "breakin period" these parts suffer wear that they haven't seen before. As the parts began to fit better with each other the LIFT may be shortned. OR a CLICK may be observed because of this new, unusual wear.

Many times it becomes necessary to readajust hydrolic lifters after this "break in" period.
Without a great deal of knowledge of cam timing and engine turning to acheive the correct lobe placement, simply tightning the objectionable noisey rockers while running is by far the easiest way for the average guy to geterdone.

Yeah it is messy! But there is little alternative..
Big JIm

 

[Psychopete]

Pete After a rebuild, mismatched parts are introduced to one another. The fit between the lifter and the used rod and the rod and the new to itself rocker tends to wear more quickly than new ones would wear.

This is why I used new push rods, lifters, and cam... And I did start it up with the covers off to make sure there wasn't anything ticking. There was, and I isolated with a stethoscope. Turned off the engine, and made slight adjustments until it cleared up. Only thing I did at 500 miles was change the oil.

simply tightning the objectionable noisey rockers while running is by far the easiest way for the average guy to geterdone.

Believe me, I wish it could have been that simple. The rocker arms are on a rocker shaft, the adjustment screw/bolt is on the very end of the rocker arm, it (the adjuster) actually contacts the push rod itself via cup and ball. It doesn't have the adjustment in the middle like a SB, it's not likely that he'll be able to make adjustment with the engine running (at least I didn't have the balls to try it).

Pete

 

[90B24wd]

"The reason I asked was that one of the more common causes
of cracked rocker towers (heads) is from people trying to "adjust away"
an oil pressure problem."

Probally those people didn't know what they were doing.

I'd like to post a photo of the valve covers that I use when I adjust my valves, but I don't know how?

On my posting rules it says I may not post attacments?

 

[Big Jim M]

Pete and 90B2... I think we are all together on this. If 90B2 aleready has covers cut out he can start to feel of the rockers and stop the engine to make slight adjustments..
If it is clicking a 1/4 turn in a chevy would do the trick most times..
After tightning wait a few minutes to make sure the lifter has purged enough to allow the valve to stay closed at rest. Sometimes it takes a few openings/closeings to purge.
Hydrolics are great when they work as designed..
Good Luck 90B2.
Big Jim

 

[AllanD]

"The reason I asked was that one of the more common causes
of cracked rocker towers (heads) is from people trying to "adjust away"
an oil pressure problem."

Probally those people didn't know what they were doing.

I'd like to post a photo of the valve covers that I use when I adjust my valves, but I don't know how?

On my posting rules it says I may not post attacments?

Actually as a general rule of thumb 9 people out of 10 don't know
what they are doing.

And in this specific case (no offense intended) if the original poster knew he wouldn't have had to ask how to do the job.
(something that should have been obvious)

He's here to be educated and we each have our own style.

People may not always like my teaching methods but fer damned sure they remember what I teach them.

AD

 

[90B24wd]

My improved version

This is the second set of covers that I made. The first set was leaking oil.

 

[AllanD]

Those are actually kinda slick, but I would have made a full length "slot" in the cover.

Mainly to make it more difficult to knock the socket off the extension.

Unless you have locking tip extensions....

 

[Big Jim M]

I give him a A+... For that effort..
Big JIm