procedure for adjusting valves

[crankbait09]

Now that I have a bug in front of me, I am reading page by page of the John Muir book to become more familiar with everything. Primarily Chapter X

having never adjusted valves before, I was getting ready to do this in the next few days. On page 100, it explains this process. Right off the bat, it mentions to NOT JACK THE CAR UP to do this.

my question is, why? Why can't this be done with the car on jack stands? I was wanting to remove the rear wheels, to check valves, brakes, and to take a gander of everything under the ass end. This will be my first close up of the bug since I brought it home.

[Eric&Barb]

While there is a lot of what J. Muir wrote that is correct or at least humorous, there is a fair amount that is just wrong. That example happens to be one of those.
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In Stereo, Where Available!

[Joe 20]

I think he doesn't want you under a jacked up car for safety reasons. There is no reason why you can't do a valve adjustment with the car on jack stands. He may also be referring to you not needing to jack the car up to do the adjustment.

[Cali_Army_Guy]

You can do it with the car on jack stands. Here a quick crappy video I made.

https://youtu.be/9YDjbfeRSP0

Once you determine you’re on #1 you just go from there. Rotate the crank pulley 1/2 turn counterclockwise and do #2. Rotate 1/2 turn and do #3. Rotate 1/2 turn and do #4. It’s literally a 10-15 job.
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2015 VW Passat Wolfsburg Edition
1966 VW Beetle - Sold

[crankbait09]

[mukluk]

You can do a valve adjustment with the car jacked up, just make sure it's sitting level while doing so otherwise you'll get a rather nasty, oily surprise when you pop the lower side valve cover off.
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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[KTPhil]

Might have been easy to adjust on an old Bus with reduction gears since there is much more clearance, and he did a lot of his work on those models.

Same issue with his advice to check front end toe with two straight sticks... just can't be done on a Bug, but maybe it can on a Bus.

[mukluk]

[glutamodo]

I wonder if people were driving fugly slammed VWs back when JM wrote that, if he'd have worded his jacking comments differently.

As it is, I always saw that as a case of "what happenes when someone has a car fall off the jacks and gets hurt by it, and they claim I told them to do it?"
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Andy T.


IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.

[Cusser]

I raise the right side a little (not off the ground), adjust those valves, then do same for the left side.

Why???
1. More room to work
2. To prevent any oil from draining out

Someone gave me his Muir book over 3 decades ago when he sold his VW; I can't say that I use it, but looked through it way back then. Wasn't overly impressed.

My favorite is the old Clymer repair manual (except those bindings didn't hold up), and I did buy a used orange Bentley book.
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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

[KTPhil]

[glutamodo]

I was rather amused when I looked at the Toyota Service Manual for my 83 Camry in regards to checking the rear toe-in, it was much like Muir, just using a tape measure between the tires instead of two sticks on the rims (mark the tire treads, run a tape measure from one tire to the other at the middle-rear, roll the car forward a half a turn and measure it at the same place... but when I went to do it, I found it to be just like the VW, it can't be done exactly at 3/9 on the clock with the carbody in the way)
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Andy T.


IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.

[mukluk]

[KTPhil]

The issue is Muir's description and drawing... it simply can't be done this way on a Bug!

Of course, there are multiple ways to deal with this. I later replaced my z-sticks with a metal piece from JC Whitney. You tighten the screw to lock the sticks together at the front, then move to the back and wiggle it see how much more space between the rims you have; this is the toe-in measurement you seek. It is listed on Amazon but is not available. I don't use the dial, I just lock it and wiggle.
https://www.amazon.com/VKRP-Distributors-Wheel-Alignment-Toe-In-Toe-Out-Gauge/dp/B01CB26JXQ

Realistically, a trip to the home center for some 1"wide by maybe 1/8" thick by 4-5 feet long aluminum pieces, cut/drill screw together to make a set of Z-sticks, and you have a gauge that will last a lifetime. Use a wingnut at the center and make a slot in one of the sticks so you can slide and lock. A couple of hours and viola!

Harbor Freight might have these now.

[KTPhil]

[HippyTom]

Valve Adjustments, on my 62 and 63 (1600s) I've never felt the need to jack them up or remove and wheels. I just lay on the ground and do it. I can do the adjustment faster than I can jack up the car and put it on stands.

[mukluk]

[scottyrocks]

I jack it up, put it on stands, and take the wheels off. I like having room to work.
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“If you care for a thing long enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn't it? Mending old things, preserving them, looking after them – on some level there's no rational grounds for it.”
– D. Tartt, 'The Goldfinch'

[Irish911]

This video will show you how to find TDC and how to adjust your valves. I had never done a VW bug before and after watching this video adjusting the valves was a piece of cake. Someone else on this site provided the link when I asked in another thread so here it is again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i9iPyT50WM

Also found this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wtNARLdF58