l3301 Valve Clearances

[ayak]

Has anyone here taken a whack at the 800hr Valve-Clearance adjustment?
Or will this be much like the scene in Magnum Force where Dirty Harry tells the just-blown-up Hal Holbrook ‘a man’s got to know his limitations’ ?

 

[Roadworthy]

A man's got to know his limitations but anyone with average mechanical abilities should be able to adjust valves. This is generally best done with the engine cold and be sure any valve you're adjusting is not under pressure from the cam, basically the point of greatest clearance.

 

[ayak]

A man's got to know his limitations but anyone with average mechanical abilities should be able to adjust valves. This is generally best done with the engine cold and be sure any valve you're adjusting is not under pressure from the cam, basically the point of greatest clearance.

Thank you, sir

 

[number two]

A set of GO/-NO-GO feeler gauges will make valve adjustment much easier!
Well worth the minimal investment.
Do an internet search.
Good Luck!

 

[GeoHorn]

Valve adjustment is Basic Mechanic Skill and isn’t a mystery.

 

[lynnmor]

Valve adjustment is Basic Mechanic Skill and isn’t a mystery.

And therein lies the problem, those Basic Skills are a thing of the past. I frequent another forum and see the "experts" go thru lengthy explanations on how to position the cam for adjustment and they usually have the cam dangerously close to the lobe ramp. Mention base circle and they have no clue what that is.

 

[ayak]

I’m actually equally concerned with first getting all the ‘stuff’ off to just gain access to do the actual adjustments.
I’ve been cleaning mass spec ion sources for a living for 35 years, so I’m slightly mechanically inclined.

 

[whitetiger]

The actual process of adjusting the valve lash clearance is very basic if you follow the chart in the WSM.
Problem is, the hood, fuel tank, some electrical and I am thinking some exhaust after treatment has to be removed to access the rocker cover.
I have not done one for a while, but anyone I have checked the valve clearance on really didn't need any adjustment at all.

 

[ayak]

The actual process of adjusting the valve lash clearance is very basic if you follow the chart in the WSM.
Problem is, the hood, fuel tank, some electrical and I am thinking some exhaust after treatment has to be removed to access the rocker cover.
I have not done one for a while, but anyone I have checked the valve clearance on really didn't need any adjustment at all.

Thanks—that’s exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Coreymacc]

A man's got to know his limitations but anyone with average mechanical abilities should be able to adjust valves. This is generally best done with the engine cold and be sure any valve you're adjusting is not under pressure from the cam, basically the point of greatest clearance.

I have a car with a solid lifter cam and all lash adjustments are done hot. The lash will change due to heat. Isn't this the same on a diesel? Unless you can get a proper cold lash spec?

Devils advocate
Corey

 

[ayak]

I have a car with a solid lifter cam and all lash adjustments are done hot. The lash will change due to heat. Isn't this the same on a diesel? Unless you can get a proper cold lash spec?

Devils advocate
Corey

WSM specifically states it’s to be done ‘cold’, for this one

 

[GeoHorn]

The Kubota valves are adjusted COLD. .008 in most instances.

 

[lugbolt]

the adjustment isn't terribly hard. Getting TO the valve cover is the challenge. Brackets, fuel tank, etc-all has to come off. WSM outlines it.

I also have cars with solid lift cams, or should I say solid roller cams. Gotta check them once in a while. The clearance spec is on a hot engine. So what I do is warm it up, pull a valve cover then check them. If in spec (usually are) let it cool off overnight and check them cold. The cold spec is usually tighter than hot So now I know the cold spec, I can check and adjust cold rather than swimming in hot engine oil around hot header tubes. You get the idea.

BTW on the L3301/3901 the spec doesn't change much between hot and cold. The block/head do expand and contract with heat but so do the pushrods and valves; and close to the same rates.

 

[Coreymacc]

The Kubota valves are adjusted COLD. .008 in most instances.

Wow, i would have never guessed that snug a lash number. There you go, very different than a car engine. Lash is typically in the .024 to .026. Range.

Thanks for the clarification
Corey