adjusted valves but have a problem...

[ehulst]

I've had this tapping sound coming from the engine and i kno its my lifters.....so i adjusted them...bring the car to top dead center....and tightend the valves down......well now my car wont start.........so i pulled my valve cover went back to the valves(top dead center)....i was noticeing with one of my exhaust valves, that it didn't have any play what so ever when it was lose....i could bring the nut and screw out and i still could not move my lifter.....same thing happend with two of my intake valves.....and they are not the same cyl. what could this problem be? Would this have an effect with starting..cause at the moment..the car wont start.....i checked for vacuum leaks and i didn't have any....

[86lxihatchback]

You have done this before right? Or did you tighten them all at tdc?

[ehulst]

i forgot to TDC all the cyl.....yeah i just TDC my valves @ all at one TDC....how hard is it gonna be to correct this problem?

[86lxihatchback]

OH boy sounds like fun I'm not sure maybe loosen them all up and start with the first cylinder, then from there. Did you use a feeler gauge for the clearances?

[A20A1]

OMG, you could have fukd things up bad.

you need to set the TDC for that 1 specific cylinder... if you do the other 3 cylinders off of the same TDC then you could mess up your valve train.

do not run the car... do not spin the crank.

Loosen all the rocker nuts and do it right. set the first TDC the most visable TDC that is on the cam gear it is marked by the word "UP"... set the cyliders vavles that are associated with it.

then rotate the crank to get to the next cyliders TDC usually marked by a indented line on the right or left half of the cam gear, using the cam gear for allignment.
set the valves for that cylinder

then rotate the crank again setting the next TDC using the cam gear. this time there will be no up or indented mark... you'll have to line up both indented marks on the cam gear so that they run parallel to the surface of the head. The surface being the rim that the valve cover rests on.

lastly you'll use the last of the unused indented marks on the cam geare to set the last 3 valves for the last cylinder.

I didn't put up cylinder numbers cause i forgot them off hand.

[SteveDX89]

The order is 1-3-4-2.

[A20A1]

I would take pics of the process, and the different cam positions but It's dark and I gotta go to class... If you wait like 6 hours I'll probably have something up by then.

[A20A1]

As promised:

HOW-TO ADJUST YOUR VALVES

.

[1987HondaAccord]

that's a cool how-to. thanks

[ehulst]

yeah i fixed the problem.......BUT.......i'm hearing a tapping noise thats seems like its coming from below my intake manifold.....i'm gessing rod knocking....cause its somewhat loud and i can hear it from the inside of the car.....or its something to do with one of my valves in cyl 3

[A20A1]

As promised:

HOW-TO ADJUST YOUR VALVES

.

I updated it with more pics.

I gotta change my oil

[keruhas184]

Wow Mike, you're a "FAQ/How-To" producing machine! Very well done, now hopefully nobody will screw up when doing their cam/valve clearances.

[A20A1]

Wow Mike, you're a "FAQ/How-To" producing machine! Very well done, now hopefully nobody will screw up when doing their cam/valve clearances.

Yup, thats the plan...

Thanks


PS: I was flipping thru images of the cam gear in my digital camera and it made a nice animation of the cam gear spinning...

[FoX]

Yeah i have a problem with my valves as well. I went out and adjusted all my valves. they are all in spec according to the shop manual. and the motor runs fine, its just near cylinder 2 and 3 don't know which on the exaust side i have this sound that sort of sounds like to hard wood sticks being hit together on every stroke. i think it is the valve hitting its seat really hard but not sure.. any ideas? by the way this is a BT motor out of a Prelude 2.0 SI. Had to replace my a20 about a week back because it threw all 4 rods.

[ehulst]

yeah i greatly apreciate the help on your part mike........I'm in a jam tho.....i'm just woundering if i got a rod knocking....which wouldn't be good cause i cant afford to waste time on ripping my motor out nor do i got the money or tools to do it....like i said its a TAP that i can hear inside the car......and when i put my ear down its sounding like Cyl 3..its practly below the intake manifold it sounds......

[Immeraufdemhund]

our engines are kinda loud as is, or is it an obvious noise that you have not heard before. what does your compression look like? what did you set your valves to? is your timing on?

[ehulst]

my valves are set, they are to spec.....i don't have a timing light so i can adjust anything....and nor do i have a compression reader.....and this might just be a stock sound but i have not herd it before that i can remember......is there a way i can adjust my timing w/out a light?

[Immeraufdemhund]

i once did it on a uphill. it's kinda difficult though doing it by ear. you have to really really know your car and the way it sounds. ummm..i'd ask some of your buddies and see if they have a timing light. When i worked at advance auto parts we had a timing light just laying around. They wont time it for you but if you keep a 10mm on a 3" extension for the 1/4" drive you can change it in the parking lot....compression readers are a little spendy, but if you work on peoples cars it is almost a must. I've heard of some people drilling out a sparkplug putting a 1 way valve with a pressure guage. i wouldn't try it though probably wouldn't be very accurate if it's if it leaks.

[ehulst]

well i mean...if i didn't have a timing light..moving that bolt...like 2cm...just curious....but i'm still puzzlled on that sound.....

[Immeraufdemhund]

find another person who has a accord 86-89 dx or lx and listen to his car. if it sounds the same... GOOD DEAL! if not...hmmm have it checked out.

[ehulst]

i've had my experiences with macanics.....i'll never go to them again....ever.....i'm gonna check it out in the morning...see what i can scuff up....

[HondaBoy]

that sound you speak of, i'd bet it isnt your rods at all. i have a sound that everyone i asked thought it was the valves or something. it wasnt. what makes the ticking or tapping sound on my engine is the air suction valve on the front of the manifold. those will do that after a while and its not uncommon. the thing that's #2 is usually the problem.

[Dr._8t9LX]

Yep, got that same knock in #2. Real annoing untell it warms up.

[Immeraufdemhund]

i took that off.

[accordlxi2.0]

i wanna take mines off....
a20a1 said right now it's acting like a egr valve....not good, even if it was'nt bad on the engine.