[Vwdiesel] mkII diesel valve adjustment

[James Hansen]

Actually Bill, the procedure is you measure the free play with a feeler
gauge, determine which ones are out of spec and by how much.  You do this
with the engine quite warm, so just going along with the feeler gauge goes
pretty quick, just turn the lobe to base circle, and measure.  Then the
engine can cool so it's nice to work on.  
On the valves that are out of spec, you pull the discs with whatever method
works for you, either using the plier and bucket depressor, plier and
compressed air and depressor, or pull the cam. You then use a caliper, or
preferably an outside micrometer, measure the shim, and replace it with the
right one to bring the lash back into spec. 

I have all the tools, and a full original vw shop shim kit, and have never
pulled a cam to do this.  The shims can get tricky to remove, particularly
to get them free of the bucket they are in- they are held in very well by
oil surface tension.  I do put a piece of windshield washer hose on a blow
gun, so I can direct air at the bottom of the shim by pressing the tip of
the blow gun right where shim and head meet, to break the shim loose with a
small puff of air, otherwise the relatively soft jawed shim plier you are
supposed to grab the hardened shim with keeps slipping off, repeatedly,
pissing you off, until I suppose you pull the cam out of frustration to get
the wee devils out.  I just use a dental pick to flick the shim out them,
and really don't use the shim pliers, just the depressor.
-james

-----Original Message-----
From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com] On
Behalf Of William J Toensing
Sent: December-05-11 5:55 AM
To: VW Diesel Fans
Subject: [Vwdiesel] mkII diesel valve adjustment

Who would you recommend buying the valve adjustment kit along with the
pliers & lots of shims. I have not tackled this job on a VW but suspect you
would measure the valve clearance with a feeler gage & add or remove shims
to get the proper clearance. I like to have tools on the shelf so if needed
I have them although I don't think I need them now.
Bill Toensing, Nevada City, CA
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