MX4800/5200/5800 engine valve adjustment

[Michael In Tennessee]

Time for my 800 hour service. Firstly, should I check the valve clearance per the service interval. Secondly, how hard is it?

A basic valve adjustment is a pretty straightforward thing. I can do that. However, first I have to get to the valve cover. Seems I have an engine bay half full of engine and half full of fuel tank and DFP system.

Has anyone done this and can give some advise? What do I need to remove and in what order? what additional parts are needed? Valve cover gasket, of course. Exhaust gaskets for the DPF? Looks like this will be an all-day adventure at a minimum.

The rest of the 800 hour service is the same as the 400 hour service. Fluids and filters. Excepting that I need to change the front axle oil too.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

So, am I in uncharted territory here? Someone, somewhere must have accomplished this.

 

[Jim L.]

I can't tell you about the MX4800. My limited experience is that the valve clearance on the Kubota diesel stays where it is. This is in contrast to gasoline powered small engines which need periodic adjustment. No telling how many of the gas engines have been left on the curb as trash when all they needed to start was to adjust the valve clearance.

Just my opinion that if it takes a lot of time to dig out the valve cover, it is probably not worth looking at the gap clearance. Fluids and filters, absolutely yes.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yea valve clearance issues are at the bottom of my list.

 

[whitetiger]

You remove the hood, drain and remove the fuel tank, and remove the DPF and bracket. There will be a few small items and brackets to remove so the rocker cover can be removed. It's a very simple, straightforward operation.
The Flat Rate Manual shows 3.1 hrs to give you an idea of the time it takes.

On the common rail engines, every single one that I have adjusted the valves on has had at least 2 valves with over 10% too much lash. Some have had .004" -.006" too much.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

You remove the hood, drain and remove the fuel tank, and remove the DPF and bracket. There will be a few small items and brackets to remove so the rocker cover can be removed. It's a very simple, straightforward operation.
The Flat Rate Manual shows 3.1 hrs to give you an idea of the time it takes.

On the common rail engines, every single one that I have adjusted the valves on has had at least 2 valves with over 10% too much lash. Some have had .004" -.006" too much.

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Thanks for the info. I think I'll buy the WSM for the MX4800 and have a go at it. I'll probably wait until winter though. And also wait until I'm mostly out of fuel.