Valve adjustment
 

I have a 96 honda accord lx non vtec. I went to the dealership becasue it
sounds like my engine was ticking. So they sound my valves have to be
adjusted. I have a haynes manual. I looked at it and it seems like its
pretty hard to do. Is it really that hard to adjust the valves? Any
suggestions or tips or help?

Re: Valve adjustment
 

First time you do it is the hardest. If you have a feel for what it is
you are trying to end up with, and have had the valve cover off and on,
it should be something you could try.
See if you want to invest in the little hand tool that makes the
actual adjustment easier. It combines a wrench and screwdriver in one
tool. bob

amsjsj wrote:
>
> I have a 96 honda accord lx non vtec. I went to the dealership becasue it
> sounds like my engine was ticking. So they sound my valves have to be
> adjusted. I have a haynes manual. I looked at it and it seems like its
> pretty hard to do. Is it really that hard to adjust the valves? Any
> suggestions or tips or help?

Re: Valve adjustment
 

First time you do it is the hardest. If you have a feel for what it is
you are trying to end up with, and have had the valve cover off and on,
it should be something you could try.
See if you want to invest in the little hand tool that makes the
actual adjustment easier. It combines a wrench and screwdriver in one
tool. bob

amsjsj wrote:
>
> I have a 96 honda accord lx non vtec. I went to the dealership becasue it
> sounds like my engine was ticking. So they sound my valves have to be
> adjusted. I have a haynes manual. I looked at it and it seems like its
> pretty hard to do. Is it really that hard to adjust the valves? Any
> suggestions or tips or help?

Re: Valve adjustment
 

First time you do it is the hardest. If you have a feel for what it is
you are trying to end up with, and have had the valve cover off and on,
it should be something you could try.
See if you want to invest in the little hand tool that makes the
actual adjustment easier. It combines a wrench and screwdriver in one
tool. bob

amsjsj wrote:
>
> I have a 96 honda accord lx non vtec. I went to the dealership becasue it
> sounds like my engine was ticking. So they sound my valves have to be
> adjusted. I have a haynes manual. I looked at it and it seems like its
> pretty hard to do. Is it really that hard to adjust the valves? Any
> suggestions or tips or help?

Re: Valve adjustment
 

First time you do it is the hardest. If you have a feel for what it is
you are trying to end up with, and have had the valve cover off and on,
it should be something you could try.
See if you want to invest in the little hand tool that makes the
actual adjustment easier. It combines a wrench and screwdriver in one
tool. bob

amsjsj wrote:
>
> I have a 96 honda accord lx non vtec. I went to the dealership becasue it
> sounds like my engine was ticking. So they sound my valves have to be
> adjusted. I have a haynes manual. I looked at it and it seems like its
> pretty hard to do. Is it really that hard to adjust the valves? Any
> suggestions or tips or help?

Re: Valve adjustment
 

Valve adjustment for all Hondas is a trivial task - but only
with proper tools and time. Following their procedure is
important. Engine should be overnight cooled since any engine
heat does significantly change adjustment. Get a feeler gauge
from someplace, like Sears, with a 45 degree bend - because
some intake valves cannot be properly adjusted using a
straight feeler gauge (as that mechanic tried to do). Have
the 10 mm close end wrench and good, regular sized, flat blade
screwdriver to loosen and tighten the adjusting screw.
Holding screw with screwdriver as locking nut is tightened. A
19 mm socket and breaker bar to rotate engine for each valve.

If the previous 'mechanic' did not screw up valve
adjustment, then each valve adjust would adjust less than '5
minutes on the hour'. Adjustment so bad as to make loud
ticking is more often due to an above described mechanic.
Found one mechanic's adjustment so poor that some (obstructed)
intake valves were between '60 and 90 minutes' too loose. In
the entire life of a Honda, no valves required more than a
total '10 minutes on the clock' change - which is why a
previous mechanic is more often suspect as reason for noise.

Best to use three feeler gauges. One that is slightly too
thin, one that is proper size, and a third being too thick.
Adjustment numbers for intake and exhaust found on an engine
hood decal. After adjusting to the middle gauge, then a thin
gauge should feel decidedly loose and the thick gauge
difficult to drive between rocker arm and valve. This is how
to confirm or 'get the feel' for each valve adjustment.

Where is the #1 Top Dead Center mark on timing chain wheel?
Start by marking that notch with red nail polish - faint mark
becomes easy to see. Also write with magic marker the numbers
'2' and '3' on timing gear's ribs to remember which position
is for those valves.

A breaker bar and 19 mm socket is best for turning engine
using provided 'wheel well' hole. Before opening hood, turn
steering wheel fully left to access the hole. After doing each
valve once, then rotate engine a second time just to confirm
each adjustment, so that proper size gauge still slides and
the 'too thick' gauge sticks.


amsjsj wrote:
> I have a 96 honda accord lx non vtec. I went to the dealership
> becasue it sounds like my engine was ticking. So they sound my
> valves have to be adjusted. I have a haynes manual. I looked at
> it and it seems like its pretty hard to do. Is it really that
> hard to adjust the valves? Any suggestions or tips or help?

Re: Valve adjustment
 

Valve adjustment for all Hondas is a trivial task - but only
with proper tools and time. Following their procedure is
important. Engine should be overnight cooled since any engine
heat does significantly change adjustment. Get a feeler gauge
from someplace, like Sears, with a 45 degree bend - because
some intake valves cannot be properly adjusted using a
straight feeler gauge (as that mechanic tried to do). Have
the 10 mm close end wrench and good, regular sized, flat blade
screwdriver to loosen and tighten the adjusting screw.
Holding screw with screwdriver as locking nut is tightened. A
19 mm socket and breaker bar to rotate engine for each valve.

If the previous 'mechanic' did not screw up valve
adjustment, then each valve adjust would adjust less than '5
minutes on the hour'. Adjustment so bad as to make loud
ticking is more often due to an above described mechanic.
Found one mechanic's adjustment so poor that some (obstructed)
intake valves were between '60 and 90 minutes' too loose. In
the entire life of a Honda, no valves required more than a
total '10 minutes on the clock' change - which is why a
previous mechanic is more often suspect as reason for noise.

Best to use three feeler gauges. One that is slightly too
thin, one that is proper size, and a third being too thick.
Adjustment numbers for intake and exhaust found on an engine
hood decal. After adjusting to the middle gauge, then a thin
gauge should feel decidedly loose and the thick gauge
difficult to drive between rocker arm and valve. This is how
to confirm or 'get the feel' for each valve adjustment.

Where is the #1 Top Dead Center mark on timing chain wheel?
Start by marking that notch with red nail polish - faint mark
becomes easy to see. Also write with magic marker the numbers
'2' and '3' on timing gear's ribs to remember which position
is for those valves.

A breaker bar and 19 mm socket is best for turning engine
using provided 'wheel well' hole. Before opening hood, turn
steering wheel fully left to access the hole. After doing each
valve once, then rotate engine a second time just to confirm
each adjustment, so that proper size gauge still slides and
the 'too thick' gauge sticks.


amsjsj wrote:
> I have a 96 honda accord lx non vtec. I went to the dealership
> becasue it sounds like my engine was ticking. So they sound my
> valves have to be adjusted. I have a haynes manual. I looked at
> it and it seems like its pretty hard to do. Is it really that
> hard to adjust the valves? Any suggestions or tips or help?

Re: Valve adjustment
 

Valve adjustment for all Hondas is a trivial task - but only
with proper tools and time. Following their procedure is
important. Engine should be overnight cooled since any engine
heat does significantly change adjustment. Get a feeler gauge
from someplace, like Sears, with a 45 degree bend - because
some intake valves cannot be properly adjusted using a
straight feeler gauge (as that mechanic tried to do). Have
the 10 mm close end wrench and good, regular sized, flat blade
screwdriver to loosen and tighten the adjusting screw.
Holding screw with screwdriver as locking nut is tightened. A
19 mm socket and breaker bar to rotate engine for each valve.

If the previous 'mechanic' did not screw up valve
adjustment, then each valve adjust would adjust less than '5
minutes on the hour'. Adjustment so bad as to make loud
ticking is more often due to an above described mechanic.
Found one mechanic's adjustment so poor that some (obstructed)
intake valves were between '60 and 90 minutes' too loose. In
the entire life of a Honda, no valves required more than a
total '10 minutes on the clock' change - which is why a
previous mechanic is more often suspect as reason for noise.

Best to use three feeler gauges. One that is slightly too
thin, one that is proper size, and a third being too thick.
Adjustment numbers for intake and exhaust found on an engine
hood decal. After adjusting to the middle gauge, then a thin
gauge should feel decidedly loose and the thick gauge
difficult to drive between rocker arm and valve. This is how
to confirm or 'get the feel' for each valve adjustment.

Where is the #1 Top Dead Center mark on timing chain wheel?
Start by marking that notch with red nail polish - faint mark
becomes easy to see. Also write with magic marker the numbers
'2' and '3' on timing gear's ribs to remember which position
is for those valves.

A breaker bar and 19 mm socket is best for turning engine
using provided 'wheel well' hole. Before opening hood, turn
steering wheel fully left to access the hole. After doing each
valve once, then rotate engine a second time just to confirm
each adjustment, so that proper size gauge still slides and
the 'too thick' gauge sticks.


amsjsj wrote:
> I have a 96 honda accord lx non vtec. I went to the dealership
> becasue it sounds like my engine was ticking. So they sound my
> valves have to be adjusted. I have a haynes manual. I looked at
> it and it seems like its pretty hard to do. Is it really that
> hard to adjust the valves? Any suggestions or tips or help?

Re: Valve adjustment
 

Valve adjustment for all Hondas is a trivial task - but only
with proper tools and time. Following their procedure is
important. Engine should be overnight cooled since any engine
heat does significantly change adjustment. Get a feeler gauge
from someplace, like Sears, with a 45 degree bend - because
some intake valves cannot be properly adjusted using a
straight feeler gauge (as that mechanic tried to do). Have
the 10 mm close end wrench and good, regular sized, flat blade
screwdriver to loosen and tighten the adjusting screw.
Holding screw with screwdriver as locking nut is tightened. A
19 mm socket and breaker bar to rotate engine for each valve.

If the previous 'mechanic' did not screw up valve
adjustment, then each valve adjust would adjust less than '5
minutes on the hour'. Adjustment so bad as to make loud
ticking is more often due to an above described mechanic.
Found one mechanic's adjustment so poor that some (obstructed)
intake valves were between '60 and 90 minutes' too loose. In
the entire life of a Honda, no valves required more than a
total '10 minutes on the clock' change - which is why a
previous mechanic is more often suspect as reason for noise.

Best to use three feeler gauges. One that is slightly too
thin, one that is proper size, and a third being too thick.
Adjustment numbers for intake and exhaust found on an engine
hood decal. After adjusting to the middle gauge, then a thin
gauge should feel decidedly loose and the thick gauge
difficult to drive between rocker arm and valve. This is how
to confirm or 'get the feel' for each valve adjustment.

Where is the #1 Top Dead Center mark on timing chain wheel?
Start by marking that notch with red nail polish - faint mark
becomes easy to see. Also write with magic marker the numbers
'2' and '3' on timing gear's ribs to remember which position
is for those valves.

A breaker bar and 19 mm socket is best for turning engine
using provided 'wheel well' hole. Before opening hood, turn
steering wheel fully left to access the hole. After doing each
valve once, then rotate engine a second time just to confirm
each adjustment, so that proper size gauge still slides and
the 'too thick' gauge sticks.


amsjsj wrote:
> I have a 96 honda accord lx non vtec. I went to the dealership
> becasue it sounds like my engine was ticking. So they sound my
> valves have to be adjusted. I have a haynes manual. I looked at
> it and it seems like its pretty hard to do. Is it really that
> hard to adjust the valves? Any suggestions or tips or help?

Re: Valve adjustment
 

thanks for the help but i think im going to have someone do it. Im scared
when it comes to the inside of the engine stuff know what i mean. In plus i
dont have all those tools. THanks or the advice though.


"amsjsj" <amsjsj@cox.net> wrote in message
news:OFxSb.12289$fZ6.7954@lakeread06...
> I have a 96 honda accord lx non vtec. I went to the dealership becasue it
> sounds like my engine was ticking. So they sound my valves have to be
> adjusted. I have a haynes manual. I looked at it and it seems like its
> pretty hard to do. Is it really that hard to adjust the valves? Any
> suggestions or tips or help?
>
>

Re: Valve adjustment
 

thanks for the help but i think im going to have someone do it. Im scared
when it comes to the inside of the engine stuff know what i mean. In plus i
dont have all those tools. THanks or the advice though.


"amsjsj" <amsjsj@cox.net> wrote in message
news:OFxSb.12289$fZ6.7954@lakeread06...
> I have a 96 honda accord lx non vtec. I went to the dealership becasue it
> sounds like my engine was ticking. So they sound my valves have to be
> adjusted. I have a haynes manual. I looked at it and it seems like its
> pretty hard to do. Is it really that hard to adjust the valves? Any
> suggestions or tips or help?
>
>

Re: Valve adjustment
 

thanks for the help but i think im going to have someone do it. Im scared
when it comes to the inside of the engine stuff know what i mean. In plus i
dont have all those tools. THanks or the advice though.


"amsjsj" <amsjsj@cox.net> wrote in message
news:OFxSb.12289$fZ6.7954@lakeread06...
> I have a 96 honda accord lx non vtec. I went to the dealership becasue it
> sounds like my engine was ticking. So they sound my valves have to be
> adjusted. I have a haynes manual. I looked at it and it seems like its
> pretty hard to do. Is it really that hard to adjust the valves? Any
> suggestions or tips or help?
>
>

Re: Valve adjustment
 

thanks for the help but i think im going to have someone do it. Im scared
when it comes to the inside of the engine stuff know what i mean. In plus i
dont have all those tools. THanks or the advice though.


"amsjsj" <amsjsj@cox.net> wrote in message
news:OFxSb.12289$fZ6.7954@lakeread06...
> I have a 96 honda accord lx non vtec. I went to the dealership becasue it
> sounds like my engine was ticking. So they sound my valves have to be
> adjusted. I have a haynes manual. I looked at it and it seems like its
> pretty hard to do. Is it really that hard to adjust the valves? Any
> suggestions or tips or help?
>
>

Re: Valve adjustment
 

Each tool was only a few dollars and available most
everywhere - including Kmart. This is one job that virtually
anyone can do - and really not possible to screw up. Even if
it gets done wrong - valves too loose, car will still drive
without damage to dealer. If this task is too difficult or if
tools not available, then don't do anything to a honda; always
get a mechanic. Valve lash being a most simple job, quite
educational. Requires patience and time.

amsjsj wrote:
> thanks for the help but i think im going to have someone do it.
> Im scared when it comes to the inside of the engine stuff know
> what i mean. In plus i dont have all those tools. THanks or the
> advice though.

Re: Valve adjustment
 

Each tool was only a few dollars and available most
everywhere - including Kmart. This is one job that virtually
anyone can do - and really not possible to screw up. Even if
it gets done wrong - valves too loose, car will still drive
without damage to dealer. If this task is too difficult or if
tools not available, then don't do anything to a honda; always
get a mechanic. Valve lash being a most simple job, quite
educational. Requires patience and time.

amsjsj wrote:
> thanks for the help but i think im going to have someone do it.
> Im scared when it comes to the inside of the engine stuff know
> what i mean. In plus i dont have all those tools. THanks or the
> advice though.