valve adjustment

i was curious, how do i test to see if a valve is too tight?
i followed the basic instructions from the place that creates aftermarket cam shafts and since its a custom cam shaft, i would have to go with what i can test with. the numbers they give is just a starter guide, as they said.
so,
i dont want a valve to burn up so is there a test?

Comments

  • You will need a manual and a feeler gauge. You will have to rotate the motor to a certain point to measure a certain valve. You will then stick the feeler gauge in between the cam and the valve to determine if it is too tight or too loose.

    You can probably find the instructions online somewhere as I had access to a shop computer for my printouts. If I have time I will hit one of my factory manuals and see what I can dig up for you.

    We just did this on my CR-V and it was super easy. You will need a flat tip screw driver and I believe either a 10 or a 12mm wrench to do the adjustment.
  • I did a write-up with a lot of pics here: http://www.civic-eg.com/viewtopic.php?t=6340
  • 949949 Senior Wagonist
    ... how do i know if i need to set the number higher or lower from where the shop recommends?

    the manual book wont help in this case. the stock numbers wont be correct for my setting.


    i aleady set it but i wanted to make sure i didnt set it too low but if its too high i would hear it clanking.

    for all to know stock d16a6 is 10 intake and 12 exhaust.

    my new cam is
    6 intake
    8 exhaust


    " i am looking to find out if my valves are burning?"
  • I did a write-up with a lot of pics here: http://www.civic-eg.com/viewtopic.php?t=6340

    Whats with the dual solenoid Vtec?
  • You want to set it to the low side of spec. This will give you the longest cam duration and hence the best power. Too tight though and you will wear your cam down. Check out the write-up I did. Essentially to answer your question, it should be loose enough that it drags slightly on the feeler gauge, but not so loose that the next size up can slide in.

    And by next size up I don't mean the next feeler gauge on your tool. Some skip quite a bit between gauges. The one I have actually increments every .001 and that's what I mean. On most D series, it's .007 intake, .009 exhaust. So on the intake you want to be able to remove a .007 but not fit a .008.
  • evol911 wrote:
    I did a write-up with a lot of pics here: http://www.civic-eg.com/viewtopic.php?t=6340

    Whats with the dual solenoid Vtec?

    I have the 3 stage VTEC motor. It's a 1996+ JDM D15B in some countries marked "D15Z7".
  • well i just adjusted the valves on my blue civic wagon and there a little more of valve ticking?
    Its quiets down when it warms up but still what gives?

    I set it all to specs.
    20mm for the intake and 25mm for the exhaust.
    It has 221,823miles.
  • Describe how you adjusted the valves.

    Did you do it when the engine had sat overnight?
  • SiWagonSiWagon Council Member
    SweetOh wrote:
    well i just adjusted the valves and there a little more of valve ticking?
    Its quiets down when it warms up but still what gives?

    2WD or 4WD :?:
    Was it ticking before the adjustment :?:
  • 949949 Senior Wagonist
    if the engine is warm and if i really needed to set it. do i go more or less in the lash setting.

    for example. if cant wait for it over night and need to set it when its warm just not burning hot but warm enough that i can touch all the parts.
    and the required setting is 6 and 8.

    do i set it looser at 6 and eight, meaning less drag?

    or do i go with a much more tighter drag?

    but still keeping it at 6 and 8 spec. i was curious which way to kinda compensate for the engine still being warm instead of cold.
  • Its a Fwd.

    Umm i did have a tick before, maybe i'm just noticing it a lot more

    I did it in the morning i haven't driven anywhere its was about 52F outside. So the engine was cold.

    I start with the piston closest to the timing belt and cranked it to TDC.
    The i work with the intake valves first. Loosen them up, slide the feeler gage then i tightening it down.

    To confirm it, i would grab the arm and wiggle it up and down to see if there's any play. Then adjust the valve till its solid and firm.
    I applied the same thing to the exhaust valve. Working i away from the timing belt or drivers side. Turning each piston to tdc.

    After i adjusted it all. I hand crank the engine twice to see that everything where it should be.

    Am i missing anything?
  • What size feeler gauges did you use? The spec has a max and a min.

    In the write-up that I linked I explain my method which is to use the .001 above the min spec size to confirm that it's not too loose. But I set it as loose as I can with still having the .001 bigger size not able to fit. So for instance I use the .007 gauge to set the intake and then try the .008 to make sure it wont fit. If it's too tight then it will pinch down on the .007 to the point that it will be difficult to remove.

    If you did it correctly and it still ticks then you should look for something else. Hondas tick quite a bit especially the OBD0 engines. The injectors are pretty loud besides the valves. I suggest you use a sthetoscope to pin point the noise.
  • i got a powerbuilt feeler Gage

    min is
    .0015
    .038
    mm

    Max is
    .025
    .635
    mm

    There the two number for each finger, over the under.
    I figured to use the top number.
  • SiWagonSiWagon Council Member
    The D15b2 & D16a6 valves are adjusted differently.Clearances are the same.
  • specs sound right here but the only thing i see that hasnt been discused is the order in wich they should be clearanced. are you going by the book? the valve set you adjust must have the piston at top dead center, hence your really checking the clearance of the idle part of the cam, no part of the cam lobe should be involed with the setting. also the spec you use should also be combined with the proper oil viscosity, they give you different settings for different conditions just like you would use different oil viscosity for the same reasons. a 50w oil would need more space so you would want to use the higher setting, a 20w would take less so you want the smaller setting. and of coarse they way your driving and the outside temp should dictate the oil/lash settings.
    now also ive found the type/brand of oil to solve some noise problems, there was a time when all i used was castrol, well mostly because thats what honda used from the factory. but one day in a rush i had a friend pick up some oil. he got me some pennzoil, well i didnt specify, so it went in. i never heard any of my motors run this quiet before! so then i went on my oil brand of choise search. now i use pennzoil to brake in a fresh motor and then change to mobil 1 for the long haul.
    i hope any of this helps, good luck 8)
  • SiWagonSiWagon Council Member
    Since we're talkin about ticking.I bought a 88Civic HB with 85k miles.The guy I got it from probably never adjusted the valves.It sounded like a diesel.Over the next 12 months I must have adjusted the valves 4 times.It was quieter ,but still ticked like it needed a valve adjustment(mechanics would tell me it needed a adjustment).Well it ran fine,got good gas mileage & passed smog tests.
  • What size feeler gauges did you use? The spec has a max and a min.

    In the write-up that I linked I explain my method which is to use the .001 above the min spec size to confirm that it's not too loose. But I set it as loose as I can with still having the .001 bigger size not able to fit. So for instance I use the .007 gauge to set the intake and then try the .008 to make sure it wont fit. If it's too tight then it will pinch down on the .007 to the point that it will be difficult to remove.

    If you did it correctly and it still ticks then you should look for something else. Hondas tick quite a bit especially the OBD0 engines. The injectors are pretty loud besides the valves. I suggest you use a sthetoscope to pin point the noise.


    You got me thinking about that. I found the box that my feeler Gage came in and i looked at the numbers, Well i so happens to be that i went off the SAE numbering on the Gage. So it was off by a lot. Wow so much to paying attention to the details.I sure feel stupid.
    Well i recheck and readjusted the valve and now it quieter and it has power.
    Thank god i didn't kill my car.
  • WagicWagic Wagonist
    Thanks to suspendedhatch for the write-up link and info. I adjusted my valves for the first time this weekend and it feels like a different car and no longer sounds like a diesel either. I had flat feeler gauges which made it problematic trying to place them at the proper angle on the intake side.
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