Anything and everything Vitesse.

Engine, cooling system, fuel system, exhaust system.

Hi, Just spent this glorious morning servicing the Vitesse & now need to adjust the tappets. The last time did this job was back in 84 on my old mk2 Escort, so whilst the engine cools down I think some useful advice is requires. I'v removed the dstributor cap and turned the engine so the points are open. Is it at this point the tappets can be checked & adjusted in the order they are open? Thanks for your help. Chris

It's 10 thou clearance for inlet and exhaust. Manual does say from cold!

When valve numbers 1 & 3 are fully open adjust 10 & 12
When valve numbers 8 & 11 are fully open adjust 2 & 5
When valve numbers 4 & 6 are fully open adjust 7 & 9
When valve numbers 10 & 12 are fully open adjust 1 & 3
When valve numbers 2 & 5 are fully open adjust 8 & 11
When valve numbers 7 & 9 are fully open adjust 4 & 6

There might be a simpler way...something about the rule of 8 but I don't know it.

I'm just off to fit my stainless 6 branch!!!

It's rule of 13 on a 6-cyl.

Cheers

Colin

You are barking up the wrong tree mate! It is the ignition points gap that you need to set in the position you describe.
What you need is the "Rule of 13" (or rule of 9 for a 4 cylinder engine).
This rule counts the rockers from 1 to 12 from front to back of the engine (although it also works the other way round).
Turn the engine (easiest if you take the spark plugs out when you can turn the engine by hand on the fan or pulling the fanbelt) until no 1 rocker is open (ie the valve is depressed). You can then set the clearance on no 12 rocker (1+12=13). With no 2 rocker depressed you can check no 11 (2+11=13). The rule of 13 is that with one rocker depressed, the other one to check will add up to 13 (if that makes any sense to you).
The layout of the 6 cylinder engine actually enables you to set more than one valve at once, but I cannot remember the sequence (it is published in the original owner's manual) and it makes more sense (to me at least) to work through methodically from one end of the engine to the other.
The rockers should be set to 10 thou, with the engine cold. If the rocker faces are worn a little hollow, you can trim the end of a 10 thou feeler gauge to the width of the valve stem so that you are measuring the actual gap rather than being affected by the wear in the rocker face.

Some people can do mental maths, some are visual. This method may suit the latter.

Imagine that there is a mirror in the middle of the engine, across between 3 and 4 cylinders.
When a valve is down - compressed - adjust the one that would be its reflection in the mirror.

This does the same as the Rule of 13, but doesn't need any maths!
So 1 down - the 'reflection' is 12!

Whatever you do, keep a note of which you have adjusted, or else put a dab of Vaseline on that valve stem.
NOT grease - it takes a while to dissolve in oil, and a lump could block up an oil way.

John

Is there an easy way to know when the valve is FULLY depressed and the tappet can be adjusted. 0.010 gap is very precise so there can be no errors surely?

Chris,
Think of the shape of the cam.
It's pear shaped, with the slopes up to the peak and back down occupying about half the circumference.
When one cam is at peak lift, its' opposite number is on the back of the cam.
The back of the cam is a pure circle, so a little bit either side of the peak lift of the corresponding cam will make no difference.
Don't worry about it!

Worry more about those worn rockers - back them right off and feel the face that meets the valve stem.
ANY wear that you can feel is too much.
The Click-Ajust tool gets around this problem, but once the case hardened face is worn through, it will wear rapidly.
John

You do not need to be sure the rocker is FULLY depressed. It is not the position of the depressed valve that is important, but that this position ensures the valve you ARE checking has the tappet on the base of the cam and therefore in a position to measure the rocker clearance. There is quite a lot of the base circle of the cam so you do NOT need to be too precise. The "opposite" valve being depressed is just a clear indication that is easily recognised.
Once you have turned the engine over a few times you will clearly see what you are aiming for, and you will probably find that the engine naturally wants to rest in a position that has the rocker pretty nearly fully depressed. As long as you can clearly see that the rocker for the valve concerned is "down" you are more than accurate enough to measure the "opposite" valve's rocker clearance.

Cheers lads!! Just checked & adjusted them. Easy!!! Regards Chris

Section : Engine

Tappet adjustment.

Followups :

Tappet adjustment.

Tappet adjustment.

Tappet adjustment.

Tappet adjustment.

Tappet adjustment.

Tappet adjustment.

Tappet adjustment.

Tappet adjustment.