Topic: tappet adjustment from partsnmore.com

[Serge]

I have ordred a tappet adjustment tool set from partsnmore.com - 9 and 10 mm for Hondas 4. I kinda expected it to have a dial on the top which would show when do I get a right cleareance while rotating the setscrew. Well, I got it today and I found that I expected too much - it is more like 10  mm wrench and a screwdriver..   Is somebody out there who used the set and how ?

thanks a lot ! - serge

[gkw120649]

Feeler Gauge.

[Tim.]

Get a couple of nice individual tapered feeler guages.  I tightened the screw down onto the guage just till it was snug, but loose enough to pull it out without a lot of effort or damage to the guage.

I have always just used a screwdriver and wrench myself.

[Serge]

I used to do it with the feeler gauges - I thought that this set supposed to work without them. Maybe something is really weird with one of my valve but it has quite deep dimple so when I set the gap with feeler gauge, it was making really loud souns and vibration. After resetting the gap three times I just put the screw in all the way and backed off the same half a turn or so, as other tappets I could set just fine with feller gauges... I thought somehow that this set supposed to make it more precise.. cheers - serge 

[Buffo]

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=2782.0

read this

Don

[Serge]

thanks Buffo, I was writing this message when you posted the link. Actually I have ordered the tool after reading that discussion in first place

Here is oldbiker's post on this:
http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=2782.msg20159#msg20159
He says "This is the way Honda mechanics do the job and never use feeler guages." Well, I gues they buy tools not from partnmore.com )

the one from denniskirk.com looks the same like I got... well, I guess I will have to calibrate it myself.. I am surprised though that such big dimple could occur.. maybe it is something else ?

cheers, -serge

[oldbiker]

Hi Serge, you are surprised that a dimple could make such a difference! If the correct clearance is .002 then a dimple of .002 which is barely discernable gives a 100% error. ie. a 2 thou feeler would give a clearance of 4 thou.

[Serge]

Hi, today I tried to use this tappet adjustment tool from partsnmore.com and found that it is impossible to use it on intake valves for #2 and 3 cylinders...  The frame gets in the way  ..  BTW , judging from website picture, the tool from motionpro.com does have marks on it, so one can use it without a feeler gauge after calibration.. 

[bryanj]

The reason it dont fit is that he genuine Honda has a short body but all the aftermwrket ones have long bodies. As to the calibration the "pitch" of the adjuster thread is 1mm (or 40 thou) so that 1 full turn = 40thou which means that 1/10 of a turn = 4 thou and 1/20 turn = 2 thou. Now those graduations are so small that the size of the divisions on the adjuster wheel are minute unless the adjuster wheel is huge. All us geriatric maniacs wot been doin the job for years--30+ in my case--  use the "if you can just feel play its 2 thou" and "if you can just hear a click its 4 thou" method