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Zundfolge1432  Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12542
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 5:00 pm Post subject: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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Seems to be a lot of confusion lately regarding valve adjustment, which way to turn the engine, how to locate TDC #1. I'll go by the manual but deviate only slightly by showing a foolproof way to locate TDC, it works because of valve timing and is not dependent on the distributor rotor which may or may not be installed correctly, what if its wrong wouldn't you like to be sure about where to start or to know if some piss ant before you screwed things up? Lets have a look.
We start by just bringing the pulley around and lining up the furthest mark to the left with the split line of the case. At this point you have a 50/50 chance of being on TDC on number 1 cylinder, why? Because 1and 3 are both fully up.
Looking at the TDC mark call that 12 o'clock so make another mark at 6 o'clock
Now turn clockwise that's to the right watching the factory TDC mark go down to about 5 o'clock, that's about 150 degrees you'll see #1 exhaust valve begin to open
There's #1, its open so I know for a fact I was at #1 before I turned it off the mark, by turning it I just verified what this cylinder is doing and I'm ready to start the valve adjustment now
Of course we are using a .006 feeler gauge.
So I turn it back from 5 o'clock back to TDC that's the mark straight up 12
Last edited by Zundfolge1432 on Mon Mar 13, 2017 3:56 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Zundfolge1432  Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12542
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 5:02 pm Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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If I had been on 3 instead of 1 I can simply rotate the engine one full turn, thats 360 degrees in either direct and I'll be on 1, that's a fact. |
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Zundfolge1432  Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12542
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 5:14 pm Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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So I've done both intake and exhaust on number 1 and its time to rotate half a turn counterclockwise and bring that mark I made at 6 o'clock up to 12.
Now I'll adjust both valves here. Satisfied I'm going to turn it half a turn counterclockwise bringing that factory TDC mark back to the case split line
Now adjust number 3 intake and exhaust.
Nice almost done, now rotate counterclockwise half a turn bring that 6 o'clock mark you made back to 12 and adjust those two valves on number 4 cylinder.
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Zundfolge1432  Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12542
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 5:22 pm Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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Now at this point you could say I'm done, but I'd run through it one more time just checking with the gauge, sometimes they change just a bit. Here's a good way to balance the wrench, feeler gauge and and screwdriver. Use a screwdriver to help hold the wrench, you need three hands
Now if your distributor drive gear is located correctly it would look like this using a 009 # 1 comes out around 4 or 5 o'clock on rim of distributor.
Just for reference I made a small yellow mark to show number 1 where rotor is pointing even with cap on. The factory vacuum advance distributors if indexed correctly will show rotor pointing to 1 at around 2 o'clock position on distributor rim. That rim mark is sometimes hard to see, it's there look.
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mark tucker Samba Member

Joined: April 08, 2009 Posts: 23950 Location: SHALIMAR ,FLORIDA
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 7:26 pm Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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why all the knotchwatching turning this way and that way do this do that. there is a eazer way and it also gives better results. and you dont have to look at the pully, dist, or spin it backwards somany degrees. EI IC..... ex open about 1/4~3/8" adjust the intake next to it. turn crank in the std direction till the intakes open and is closing.stop when the intake is about 1/4~3/8" from being closed ( closing, not opening) , now you adjust that cylinders exhaust. repeat on all 3 cylinders. or when you get to know what your doing you can do them as they come around. it's eazer and accounts for the spring pressures on the other lobes and the bearing clearances and system flex witch it the way it is when it'a running. as I recall these engines are not supposed to be run backwards as that pumps oil from the bearings or filter back through the pump and in to the sump leaving...air in the system and bring comtaminates traped in the oil filter into the pump.... the engine now runs smoother sounds better and has a better power balance.
if your cam bearings have .005" clearance witch is common.and you do it the knotch ,turn this way &turn that way and stand on your head counting degrees that .005" can be added or subtracted from the lash you think your setting.. do it the other way and the system is preloaded as it is when it's running. |
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Zundfolge1432  Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12542
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 8:11 pm Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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Not counting how to locate TDC I tried to just go by the book per the manual, why? Because you have a vast cross section of people here. I am actually trying to help someone learn. There are several different ways to adjust valve clearances but why not go with what is shown in all of the manuals. I know you want to impress all here with your vast knowledge and command of the English language but maybe you could give this one a pass. Thanks. |
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heimlich  VWNOS.com

Joined: November 20, 2016 Posts: 7272 Location: Houston, Texas
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 9:18 pm Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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I like it. A bit more on how to find TDC would be helpful and how you know you found it. Finding TDC is the most important part of following many instructions since everything after it assumes you found TDC correctly.
Also, maybe a bit on how to use feeler gauges. This is always tricky for me because you can put the 006 in there until it is so tight it is hard to pull out. This seems wrong. It seems to be best right in between where it is too tight to pull out and tight enough to touch when you slide it around. I always like to take the .005, .006, and .007 out to check after I adjusted the valves to make sure the 007 won't fit and the 005 will.
I have also noticed that when you have the feeler gauge in and you tighten down the nut a bit some of the gap is lost. It seems it loosens up a bit probably because the nut is pulling back on the screw so a little extra compensates for that. |
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bnam Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2006 Posts: 3383 Location: El Dorado Hills CA/ Bangalore, India
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 9:56 pm Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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When the rockers are loose, I make sure to manually move them in/out and make sure I am measuring with the rocker out. |
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ashman40 Samba Member

Joined: February 16, 2007 Posts: 16364 Location: North Florida, USA
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 10:14 pm Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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Well done. This one deserves to be a sticky. _________________ AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!} |
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Tim Donahoe Samba Member

Joined: December 08, 2012 Posts: 11775 Location: Redding, CA
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 10:37 pm Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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This teaching was perfect for the novice to understand a simple method to insure you are at tdc on number one. It was also enlightening to those who have adjusted valves many times
Good show.
Tim _________________ Let's do the Time Warp again!
Richard O'Brien |
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Frodge Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006 Posts: 2061 Location: Dump
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Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 4:05 pm Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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Is there a mark on a stock pulley 180 degrees from the tdc notch #1? My pulley has red marks btdc as shown in this pic and around 180 degrees from thee...
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rockerarm Samba Member
Joined: December 16, 2009 Posts: 3552 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 4:31 pm Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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Nope. No genuine VW pulley had factory marks to indicate what you asked, which are marks 180 degrees opposite from #1/#3 TDC.
Your nomenclature is wrong as the other marks would be TDC for cyl's #2/#4.
Hope this helps, Bill. |
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11Bravo Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2017 Posts: 185 Location: New York
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Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 7:17 pm Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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mark tucker wrote: |
why all the knotchwatching turning this way and that way do this do that. there is a eazer way and it also gives better results. and you dont have to look at the pully, dist, or spin it backwards somany degrees. EI IC..... ex open about 1/4~3/8" adjust the intake next to it. turn crank in the std direction till the intakes open and is closing.stop when the intake is about 1/4~3/8" from being closed ( closing, not opening) , now you adjust that cylinders exhaust. repeat on all 3 cylinders. or when you get to know what your doing you can do them as they come around. it's eazer and accounts for the spring pressures on the other lobes and the bearing clearances and system flex witch it the way it is when it'a running. as I recall these engines are not supposed to be run backwards as that pumps oil from the bearings or filter back through the pump and in to the sump leaving...air in the system and bring comtaminates traped in the oil filter into the pump.... the engine now runs smoother sounds better and has a better power balance.
if your cam bearings have .005" clearance witch is common.and you do it the knotch ,turn this way &turn that way and stand on your head counting degrees that .005" can be added or subtracted from the lash you think your setting.. do it the other way and the system is preloaded as it is when it's running. |
I do know adjusting valves can be a struggled for some. I'm old and have been doing valve adjustments for at least 55 years. I always adjust all engines with solid lifters one way. Much like the the poster I quoted. I only turn the engine in it's normal rotation direction and I use EOIC which he meant. Maybe a bit more turning but you can do one bank at a time instead of bouncing around the engine. Lots of ways to do it but the EOIC works with even hot cams. |
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Zundfolge1432  Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12542
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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 6:39 am Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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I think it's great that you and mark seem to know more than the engineers that designed the car. As I said before we are showing that which is approved in the official workshop manual not counting locating TDC #1. Thanks. |
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eashc Samba Member

Joined: April 10, 2012 Posts: 340 Location: Ventura County
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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 6:57 am Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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what does the EOIC mean? |
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vamram  Samba Member

Joined: March 08, 2012 Posts: 7795 Location: NOVA
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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 7:22 am Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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eashc wrote: |
what does the EOIC mean? |
https://www.google.com/search?q=eoic+valve+adjustm...p;ie=UTF-8
Doesn't seem any simpler than the procedure Zund documented. To me, anyway. _________________ "Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition
to put moral chains upon their own appetites. -Edmund Burke
“If something cannot go on forever, it will stop.”
Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!
'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...languishing since 2022.
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Save the Supers!! |
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Floating VW Samba Member

Joined: April 28, 2015 Posts: 1614 Location: The South Zone
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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 7:32 am Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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Exhaust Open/Intake Closed
Has anyone ever compared the two methods to see if there is a significant difference in the resulting lash? I mean, if there is 0.001" or more difference between the Bently method and the EOIC method, I would consider that significant. But if it's only 0.00015", then I would say either method is fine. _________________ "It's time you started treating people as individuals, rather than mathematically predictable members of an aggregate set, regardless of how well that works." |
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Cusser Samba Member

Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 32485 Location: Hot Arizona
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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 8:23 am Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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Nice write-up Zundfolge !!!
Frodge wrote: |
Is there a mark on a stock pulley 180 degrees from the tdc notch #1? My pulley has red marks btdc as shown in this pic
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Frodge: your photo of YOUR pulley shows your notch mark at 0 TDC for #1 (or #3). As you look clockwise at the pulley rim, your next mark is 7.5 BTDC and the next one close to that is 10 BTDC.
Completely opposite from your 0 TDC mark YOU MAKE your own mark for BDC (also called TDC for #2 and #4, for adjusting valves for #2 and #4) _________________ 1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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Molly1973 Samba Member
Joined: June 22, 2012 Posts: 159
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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 8:30 am Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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This is a good write up! Thank you for sharing. |
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Frodge Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006 Posts: 2061 Location: Dump
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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 8:44 am Post subject: Re: Valve adjust easy with pics |
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Cusser, thanks. I'm aware it's at tdc. My question is about the red paint marks,. The one you can see if n the pic, and one about 180/degrees from there. |
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