My valves have minds of thier own

fccperdiem · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:13 am Post subject: My valves have minds of thier own

I just got a 1641 from a good friend of mine. I installed it in my baja, cranked it up, and all was well. As the engine heated up however, it was loosing power. After playing around with timing, jets, points gap... I checked the valve clearance. Almost all of them were tight. So, I adjusted everything to .006 and tried it again. I noticed an increase in torque right away. But as it warmed up, it was still loosing power. I checked the valves again after it cooled down, and found #3 intake and exhaust with no gap! In fact, they were keeping the valves from seating. Readjusted again...same thing. What the hell?
_________________
Eric
Beard Fire Metalworks
Ellsworth, ME
207-242-0016
www.beardfiremetalworks.com

beetleboy58 · Samba Conquestador Joined: February 27, 2006 Posts: 1073

You are losing a valve seat in the head. Off with the heads!

[email protected] · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:52 am Post subject:

This may be a dumb question but, are you making sure the adjusting nuts are tight when adjusting the valves? When you readjust each time, does it look like you are backing the adjusting screw out more and more each time? Is this happening on every valve on both heads or just #3? I find it hard to believe(but not impossible) that two valve seats on the same cylinder are pounding into the head at the same rate.

fccperdiem · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:41 am Post subject:

I don't think any question is a dumb one at this point. I'm greatfull for the help. Yes, I believe the locking nuts were tight.

Did I back the adjusters out, or are they mushrooming? I had to back them out to relieve the preload from the springs. They were opening the valves staticly. I haven't counted the threads before and after adjustment, but I will.

All valve clearances seem to be in flux, but #3 is by far, the worst offender.
_________________
Eric
Beard Fire Metalworks
Ellsworth, ME
207-242-0016
www.beardfiremetalworks.com

kielbasa · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:14 pm Post subject:

are you adjusting the valves while hot? you should let it sit cold over night before messing with em again.
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fccperdiem · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:43 am Post subject:

A friend suggested that the valve guides could be sticking. Sound reasonable?
_________________
Eric
Beard Fire Metalworks
Ellsworth, ME
207-242-0016
www.beardfiremetalworks.com

Ohio Tom · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:36 pm Post subject:

Make sure you are doing all of your valve adjustments with the motor cold and follow the proceedure correctly.
If you are doing this correctly, and you have an exh valve that keeps getting tight, then you have something coming apart in the heads.
Do not run the motor any more. Pull the heads off and get them fixed. I will be much cheaper now than if you let it go...

elvis67 · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:43 pm Post subject:

always do your valve adjustment with the engine hot so you know the lifters are somewhat pumped up if you do it cold that is just a preliminary adjustment, sounds like you have a lifter that is not bleeding off the oil.

nc68bugman · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:53 pm Post subject:

I doubt He has hydraulic lifters! Solid lifters must be adjusted when engine is dead cold! Preferabally, overnite!

Chuck_G · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:31 am Post subject:

fccperdiem · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:37 am Post subject:

OK, guys. I know that VW states that the engine must be below 120F to adjust the valves. Rather than pace around the thing with a thermometer, I have always waited until the following day to break out the feeler gage.

No, I don't have hydraulic lifters.

Now that we are past "Intro to Thermodynamics", anybody have any ideas?
_________________
Eric
Beard Fire Metalworks
Ellsworth, ME
207-242-0016
www.beardfiremetalworks.com

mharney · Samba Member Joined: June 01, 2002 Posts: 8353

There is only one way that this can happen, and it's already been said.. you have valve problems, if the clearance is getting taken up each time you adjust them. The valves and seats are probably toast.

[email protected] · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:00 am Post subject:

LMAO!

-1

fccperdiem · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:14 am Post subject:

Now, I'm really lost. Just went out to check the valves again, and #3 intake AND exhaust are at least an eigth of an inch loose! How can they go from uber loose to a negative gap in Five running minutes?

Before anyone asks, I am sure I was adjusting #3. I repeated the same prosess that I have used on all my VWs.
_________________
Eric
Beard Fire Metalworks
Ellsworth, ME
207-242-0016
www.beardfiremetalworks.com


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