Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all, I need to adjust my tappets but cannot get hold of/afford the special tools to enable me to change the shims in situ.
I am thinking that if i make a note of all the valve gaps measurements first then remove the camshaft I could refit all the correct shims and refit the camshaft. I already have the timing belt and its covers removed so refitting the camshaft is not much extra work.
Is this a cunning plan or a recipe for disaster?

cheers

reg

Its the way to go without the special tooling.
In some engines its the only way to go!

Thanks for help, should tick over a bit better when done!

hedgejumper wrote:Hi all, I need to adjust my tappets but cannot get hold of/afford the special tools to enable me to change the shims in situ.
I am thinking that if i make a note of all the valve gaps measurements first then remove the camshaft I could refit all the correct shims and refit the camshaft. I already have the timing belt and its covers removed so refitting the camshaft is not much extra work.
Is this a cunning plan or a recipe for disaster?

cheers

reg

Yes it can be done this way however, you still need a metric micrometer to measure the shims fitted as they are all different thickness's, then you add or subtract to attain the correct clearance.
0.20mm - 0.30mm inlet
0.40mm - 0.50mm exhaust should be done warm/hot

Martin

Yes if tend timing belt is off remove the camshaft, get a good strong magnet to pull the shims out as they can stick by oil suction to the buckets.

Also loosen the cam bearing caps a little at a time each cap at a time and the same method when tightening the caps back up to prevent the cam from snapping. Also the bearing caps nuts can be over tightened so torque them up to the correct torque.

I'm sure someone here has the correct torque settings

Hmmm does seem a shame to have to do it that way..but needs must.

Here are the same ones I have: and they never get used, which is even more of a shame, I ought to offer a tappet service lol.







Martin

Yes they are like the ones I used for an vauxhall Isuzu engine I did once but if the cam belt is already off its no biggy to take the cam off.

Thanks for the help guys, the magnet was excellent for getting the shims out by the way. As a T25 newbe i assumed that the shims were freely available as they were a service part.
I ordered a set from Brickwerks for a good price and will be here tomorrow, very pleased. I phoned around to see just who stocked them and to my surprise JK dont, GSF dont and best of all my local VW main dealer doesn't. Mind you they all have a great selection of mirror mounted air fresheners and led keyring torches!!

hedgejumper wrote:. Mind you they all have a great selection of mirror mounted air fresheners and led keyring torches!!

Like when Homebase took over the site of a good local builders merchants - loads of tat at grossly inflated prices + very poor selection of essentials.

hedgejumper wrote:Thanks for the help guys, the magnet was excellent for getting the shims out by the way. As a T25 newbe i assumed that the shims were freely available as they were a service part.
I ordered a set from Brickwerks for a good price and will be here tomorrow, very pleased. I phoned around to see just who stocked them and to my surprise JK dont, GSF dont and best of all my local VW main dealer doesn't. Mind you they all have a great selection of mirror mounted air fresheners and led keyring torches!!

Well, let me know if there are any awkward sizes that you need..I've got a couple of jam jars full of the things.

Martin