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Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:32 pm

Hello tried adjusting my valves the other day and i got 1 and 2 done fine but then i go to 3 rotating counterclockwise 180* in between like im supposed to, but even with the adjusting screw and nut all the way out of the hole i still cant get the .006 feeler guage in between the rocker and valve stem like im supposed to be able to. And its the same for both exhaust and intake. Exhaust i can almost pressit in place but i have to push pretty hard and it still wont go all the way. So put 3 back together how it was and move to cylinder 4. Same thing. Hoping i dont have something broke but i am not sure what to look for. '73 Westy. Runs mostly fine. I drive it every day. When i push the clutch down it tries to die half the time unless i tap the gas just a little then it levels out while i stop and idle. It works for getting around but seems like the fuel air mix is off until the rpms are up a bit. Im hoping the valve adjustment would help. Anyone have any thoughs on what is keeping 3 and 4 tight?

Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:27 pm

I had a similar problem. Thoughts on keeping them tight? - DON'T! Fix this or things will get ugly.

My fix was to remove the rocker arm, install a shim, and readjust the valves after reinstalling. A number of things can happen that will keep the valve from being adjusted correctly - including a valve sinking into the head. I'm hoping that it is enough and that I won't have to remove the head to inspect it.

Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:32 pm

SkyLo420 wrote: Hello tried adjusting my valves the other day and i got 1 and 2 done fine but then i go to 3 rotating counterclockwise 180* in between like im supposed to, but even with the adjusting screw and nut all the way out of the hole i still cant get the .006 feeler guage in between the rocker and valve stem like im supposed to be able to. And its the same for both exhaust and intake. Exhaust i can almost pressit in place but i have to push pretty hard and it still wont go all the way. So put 3 back together how it was and move to cylinder 4. Same thing. Hoping i dont have something broke but i am not sure what to look for. '73 Westy. Runs mostly fine. I drive it every day. When i push the clutch down it tries to die half the time unless i tap the gas just a little then it levels out while i stop and idle. It works for getting around but seems like the fuel air mix is off until the rpms are up a bit. Im hoping the valve adjustment would help. Anyone have any thoughs on what is keeping 3 and 4 tight?

rotate the engine by hand two full revolutions a 1/2 turn at a time from TDC to TDC and see if they ever get loose. Sometimes you are just on the wrong cylinder.

Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:22 pm

Pull the plugs out and find TDC on the compression stroke for the appropriate cylinders and adjust the valves. Then you know for sure.

Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:58 pm

Thanks guys. March ill do that and post results. I actually did it for the first cylinder but just went by turning 180 c.c. for the rest.

Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:07 am

Looking at the rotor in the distributor works too (if the engine ran before), follow the wire it points to in the cap to the cylinder that's ready to adjust.

Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:16 pm

Quote: My fix was to remove the rocker arm, install a shim, and readjust the valves after reinstalling.
That's probably not going to end well. Your engine is telling you something. Truth be told if you have to shim the rockers to get lash then I'd say the engine is screaming something at you.

Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:51 am

It seems that people have problems with one adjusting screw sticking out past the others regularly. One of mine is recessed past the others. It has maybe 1 thread showing while the others have maybe 4 threads showing. I can't find anyone else with the same problem. Is this telling me to buy some new heads?
'77 stock

Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:58 am

It's telling you to remove the rockers and put a straight edge across the valve tips. If they're all even measure the cam lift on that rocker with a dial indicator.

Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:24 am

busdaddy wrote: It's telling you to remove the rockers and put a straight edge across the valve tips. If they're all even measure the cam lift on that rocker with a dial indicator.

and if they are not even the valve is being lost and will end in a catastropic failure if you don't intereceed now.

Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:43 pm

just my 2 cents. I had simalar problem on my 1600 dual port number 2 and 4 could not be adjusted, so after a quick phone call to my vw buddy he confirmed that my valve seats slipped. i pulled the engine and removed the heads and cleaned them, once cleaned i discovered a hairline crack on them, so i had a choice get new heads? or finish my 1776cc build.

Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:01 pm

When I got my bug it had a very loud rocker arm noise. I did a valve adjustment and found that the #2 exhaust valve adjusting screw was worn down on one side which made it impossible to adjust the valve. The feeler gauge would get stuck and would give a different reading every time the engine was rotated. I put in a new screw and it's been fine ever since and I've driven it thousands of miles. The only thing I could figure is that that valve had been way out of adjustment and someone just kept driving it like that and destroyed the screw.

Sat Mar 17, 2012 7:13 pm

Straight edge is first step to do.

I had an SP with a sinking valve seat. Only found it by doing the straight edge trick across stems. Had to replace heads!

Sun Mar 18, 2012 2:46 pm

My brother in law noticed that my rotor seems to be 90* off from where it should be. Im not sure. They fire in the right order so it seems...it runs pretty smooth to me for that to be a big issue. Idk. Its like the fireing position for cylinder 1 is where 3 should be. Idk of this is one of the differences of a 1700 or not. He thought i should post to see if anyone has any input on that.

Sun Mar 18, 2012 2:51 pm

SkyLo420 wrote: My brother in law noticed that my rotor seems to be 90* off from where it should be. Im not sure. They fire in the right order so it seems...it runs pretty smooth to me for that to be a big issue. Idk. Its like the fireing position for cylinder 1 is where 3 should be. Idk of this is one of the differences of a 1700 or not. He thought i should post to see if anyone has any input on that.

Typical aftermarket 009 distributor sitting in a Type 4 engine. They have a 90* offset through the distributor. You just stick the wires on 90* off and everything runs fine . . . except for having that distributor.

NOW THEN, occasionally the distributor drive gear is stuck in at the 6 possible different positions it could land on the crankshaft gear, so variations abound.
Colin

Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:18 pm

Right on that good to know its not on wrong. I just wasnt sure cause there was 2 marks on the rotor. One factory one homeade. Its set for the one thats homemade. Works fine.
I got the adjusting problem taken care of for now...i know it wasnt advised, But after cranking by hand a few revolutions around and checking things i we went, we added a couple washers to the rocker arm setting. Got it adjusted after that. runs smooth. The only thing we could come up with is that the head has been shaved and they didnt compensate for the difference. Or that the push rods arent the right ones for this motor. But it helped.
Now im wondering about another issue but im gonna make a new post. Thank you for your input everyone.

Tue Mar 20, 2012 6:50 am

So while you were adding these washers did you happen to try the straightedge across the valves?

Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:29 pm

no i didn't. i should have. but it would only take a few minutes. i will do that soon on a hopefully warmer day. so what i'm looking for is the end of the valve stems to all be even to the straight edge? not the springs or any of that around it? the tips themselves? just want to make sure to know what i'm lookin for exactly. and if they aren't lined up means sinking seats or something?

Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:32 pm

Yes, although the springs should be fairly even as well.

Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:53 pm

I wouldn't worry about it. If it is the valves and it grenades the worst it can do is leave you stranded a mile from home. 1700 engines are more common used than 2 liter so you should be able to find one if it scatters. It is just a shame you didn't get a chance to check them while the rocker shaft was off.