Elephant foot valve adjusters comparison

[Pascal]

These are all 8mm adjusters. CB Performance on the left, Bugpack in the middle, and no name "p/n 109470" on the right.

You will notice quite a difference in the finish of the ball end that is inserted into the foot. The CB are quite rought, the other two are smoother with the Bugpack being the hight polished ball end. The CB ones feel rough when I swivel the feet. The Bugpack one is the smoothest, with the no name one close second. I initially bought the CB ones because they seem popular here. I thought they were a little rough but thought well...that must be how they are. I ordered a Bugpack one as a spare, just in case one of the CB ones broke far away from home. I noticed right away that the finish was a lot better than the CB units. I then decided to order a full set of Bugpack ones, but was sent the no name one because the vendor was out of stock of the Bugpack adjusters.

The first photo shows the difference in range of motion of the feet. The no name appears to have a slight better range, but the foot also seems to be looser than the Bugpack unit. The Bugpack and "no name" measured 0.197" at their narrowest at the neck, while the CB were 0.18".

What does all this mean? I don't know. Which ones am I going to run? I don't know...

For those of you who have used the CB units, were yours as rough as mine? Maybe I got a bad batch??? Maybe they will smooth out as they break in, but they just do not seem right, but maybe they are made of better material?
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'84 Westy - 2.2wbx, GT Torque-Biasing Differential
'91 EA Cabby

[MarkWard]

Did you soak them in oil? What engine?

[bluebus86]

I bought some of them years ago for my typeIV motor. after several valve adjustments, one day during an adjustment the feeler gage felt like it was hanging up on something. I pulled the rocker shaft and examined the adjuster screw "foot". Sto my amazement, the ball in the ball socket had punched its way thru the foot, the foot material was way to soft for this application.

these where inexpensive ones, likely made in some make shift forge.

I then bought real Porsche ones (pricey) and have had no problems since.

so make sure you check the screw foot if you ever feel the feeler gage hang up on something when doing a valve adjustment

[Pascal]

These are for a motor I'm building so they are new. Whatever I end up using will get soaked in oil

Yes those Porsche ones are expensive. The Bugpack and no name ones I have look pretty much exactly like the Porsche ones.
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'84 Westy - 2.2wbx, GT Torque-Biasing Differential
'91 EA Cabby

[drumbum68]

The Cb's in my opinion are very hard (no ductility). Should be long wearing if they don't break. The question is how much articulation do you need for your cam.

[Air Cooleds Only]

use genuine Porsche adjusters ONLY.
everything else is crap.

i speak from experience.
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Air Cooleds Only

[AtlasShrugged]

Porsche OEM valve adjuster with the feet..about $24 each from Pelican. 8x24= $192 No headaches. http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_inf...4-89%29%20

Will the bearing surface inside the ball socket get oiled with WBX hydo-lifters? Zero lash..

[Pascal]

[Pascal]

[shadetreetim]

Having recently purchased and installed the CB's, I guess my motor will be a test case. Interesting to see them compared to the other two brands.
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Tim Potts

Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!


'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5

[Pascal]

[germansupplyscott]

i took a photo of a genuine 911 adjuster. it's a little different. in the very first photo - top of topic - the middle and right one look the same to me.

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SL

[Pascal]

[shadetreetim]

[Danwvw]

Bet the CB-Performance are the best ones in your picture. I like the way the threads go up close to the ball. I have tried some no name's they did not last long balls fall out! Now I have some scat that are pushing 25000 miles and are still fine.
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1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!

[germansupplyscott]

[Pascal]

I'm now thinking that the rough machining of the CB Performance adjusters might allow for oil to lubricate them more readily than a smoothly finished adjuster. As I mentioned earlier they are the hardest of the 3 brands that I have and maybe the harness compensated for the roughness and allows them to last in hydrolic lifter applications. I've read that several people and vendors say the elephant feet will not last with hydolic lifters, but the CB ones seem to work for WBXer.

The other difference is maybee the WBX has better oil flow to the rockers compared to the aircooled type 1 engine which might enable the elephant foot adjuster to get properly lubricated and be compatible with the WBXer hydro lifters.

I've been thinking of running a few of each on my engine and monitoring them, but I don't want to have one break on one of our road trips. My westy does not get much daily driving, it's mainly our weekend gettaway and vacation machine...I would not be very popular if one broke on a road trip and I had to explain to my spouse that I was experimenting with valve adjusters to see which ones would wear out first
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'84 Westy - 2.2wbx, GT Torque-Biasing Differential
'91 EA Cabby

[-Rusted_Radio-]

Just bought a set. But new to theses. I had ball adjusters. I keep seeing things about having to clearance rocker arms for these. Anyone know of a thread for that? Thanks guys...
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Wes
61 Beetle on 69 Frame
Siloam Springs, Ar

[heiko910]

Does anyone of you know if there are 10mm Elephant foot adjusters available?
Thanks,
Heiko

[Pascal]

Heiko,

I've never seen 10mm elephant foot adjusters. Just the 8mm and 9mm ones. The only 9mm ones I have seen are the CB ones.
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'84 Westy - 2.2wbx, GT Torque-Biasing Differential
'91 EA Cabby