Club 80-90 Forums

Think that the tappets need adjusting on our 1.6TD, but here the fun begins. Thought that they were probably shim adjusted and started trying to find somebody who could do the job, only people I could find wanted £120 to do it. Then whilst trying to find a supply of shims to do the job myself a bloke at a local engine specialist said that the 1.6 went over to hydraulic tappets in 1987 and ours is a 1990. Can anybody enlighten me before I just take the rocker cover off and have a look, assuming that I will be any wiser with the rocker cover off. The van will have to be off the road for a few days with this approach while I confirm what I need and get neccesary tools and shims. VW parts told me that 3.8 shims are now obsolete, those are bound to be the ones I need.

Anby thoughts!

regards
steve

mine has solid tappets [1992] as far as i know all the jx engines have solid tappets,i got replacement shims from engine reconditioners here in Spain [some for 2euros some free!!].its easy to do your self[once you get your head round it].
good luck.

0.2 - 0.3mm inlet and 0.4 - 0.5mm exhaust set hot...take about 20minutes in total including replacing the cork gasket and rubber end seals (probably twice that as it's been a few years since I did them last)
I really don't know anything about change over years, engine numbers for solid/hydraulic but wipping off the cam cover to have a quick look will take you less than 10 minutes (shims sit in the top of the followers so are easy to see)
Shame you aren't any closer as I've got everything you need
Martin

The 1.6TD jx engine never had hydraulic tappets

Thanks everybody

I better stop thinking about it and get on and do it, found a place thats got the shims, just got to get a tool and a digital vernier. thought 2 hours work and £120 was a bit of a rip off, might as well spend money on the tools and next time I'll be set.

thanks again
regards
steve

I know i've mentioned this several times before but tappet check and adjustment should be carried out at 12,000 service intervals according to VW's own service schedual for this engine. Once adjusted (after first service/head or engine rebuild) only one or two shims typically need changing on each service..gaps do remain fairly stable but let me play devils advacote here and suggest that most of these engines will not have had main dealer service for many years and travelled tens of thousands of miles since these clearances were properly adjusted.
Trouble is that almost all back street garages DO NOT possess the required tools or replacement shims required to carry out these VITAL adjustments and so most owners go ignorant of the fact that this important part of the service is simply not being done at their regular back street garage! there are exceptions to this of course, Simon being one of them.
I would also point out that the cork cam cover gasket typically goes rock solid resulting in oil leaks....another reason why regular checks are necessary.
Note* Poor tappet service can result in excessive noise, lack of power, irratic idle and in extreme cases...burnt out valves.

Martin