Transcript
how
to
a d j u s t i n g t app e t s
Adjusting tappets there’s not much that needs regular adjustment on a VW engine, but the valve clearances do. It’s easy once you know how
Cost: Approx £2 Time taken: 1/2 hour - 1 hour Difficulty:
@@ Tools used: flat blade screwdriver, 13 and 21mm spanners, feeler gauges, Tippex
Never be tempted to re-use old rocker cover gaskets, buy two new ones before you start the job Here’s what you’ll find under your rocker covers. And yes, it should be covered in a thin film of oil like this
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and exhaust valves and allow a carefully calculated amount of valve lift. Hence why you’ll also hear this job referred to as
djusting the tappets on any air-cooled VW is a relatively
You’ll also hear this job referred to as setting your valve clearances
straightforward procedure, but it’s one that many people either fear or simply don’t bother doing. Once you’ve got your head around the process though, you’ll find it comes as second nature. Remember though, it must only ever be done with the engine stone cold, so if you’ve driven your car that day, leave it until tomorrow to do this job. We’ve only shown half the process here as it’s exactly the same for the other two cylinders on the other side of the engine, just remember to turn the engine 180-degrees anti-clockwise between each cylinder. Just so you know what you’re dealing with, the tappets are the parts that operate the inlet 2 8 KYLA
the factory settings every 3000 miles for optimum performance as if the tappet gap is allowed to stretch, valve lift will be decreased and performance will suffer. Plus your engine will sound like a bucket of nails being rattled. Alternatively, if the tappet gap closes, the valve will be lifted off its seat, which will soon damage the valve and valve seats. In short, keep on top of tappet adjustment and your Beetle will run happily ever after (hopefully…).
setting your valve clearances. On a stock engine they should be checked regularly and set to
Top t ip Once you’ve found the TDC notch on the pulley clearly mark it with Tippex, then mark it at 180-degrees from there as well
Tappet clearances
According to VW, pre-1971 air-cooled engines should run 0.004-inch clearance, with the engine stone cold. Post-1971 engines should be set to 0.006-inch.
This clever tool called a Clickadjust is available from Frost Auto Restoration Techniques (see www.frost.co.uk) and makes doing this job a doddle
how
to
a d j u s t i n g t app e t s
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If the gap is incorrect, loosen the 13mm lock nut and adjust the valve gap by screwing the adjuster either in or out. Here’s where the third hand comes in handy as you need to check the valve clearance with the feeler gauge while you re-tighten the nut. Do both the inlet and exhaust valve on no.1 in the same way
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Once you’re happy with both valve clearances on no.1 piston, rotate the crankshaft anti-clockwise by 180 degrees, until that second mark you made on the pulley (see top tip) lines up with the crankcase centreline
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Pop off the dizzy cap, then rotate the engine by the top pulley nut until no.1 piston is at TDC. This is when the rotor arm lines up with the notch in the body of the dizzy and when the notch in the lower pulley lines up with the centreline of the crankcase (see close up pic of pulley on the opposite page)
ENGINE
Q: How often should I check the tappets? A: Every 3000 miles, so why not do it each time you change your engine oil?
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Now remove the rocker cover for no.1 and 2 pistons (the right hand side looking into the engine bay) by prying the spring clip down with a screwdriver or pry bar
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Be prepared for a small amount of oil to trickle out of the cover and cylinder head. Try not to let it drip all over the exhaust below
Q: Can I use a cigarette paper or some card to set my tappets? A: No, you tight-fisted git, buy some feeler gauges and do the job right!
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Returning to the same side underneath the car, you now have to repeat the process on the no.2 valves – the two nearest the crank pulley end
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No 1 cylinder is to be checked first – that’s the one on the right hand bank nearest the flywheel. Feel for movement by hand first and then insert the feeler gauge and check for further movement. [NB You’ll note here that these are bolt-up rocker shafts, just to show you the process doesn’t vary]
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With the tappets on pistons no.1 and 2 adjusted, clean your rocker cover and fit a new gasket. If you have any trouble keeping it in place while you re-fit the cover, try a couple of small blobs of Vaseline or similar KYLA 2 9
