Adjusting vavles on JD60

[garyedward]

I just installed a new head gasket and new intake and exhaust manifolds on my 1956 JD 60. Since I'm not a mechanic, but can follow directions (not according to my wife!) the service and parts manual helped immensely. The manual is not clear to me on adjusting the tappets. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time

 

[Mike M]

Bring the flywheel side # 1 up to TDC of compression stroke. Adjust both valves on the flywheel LH side to .022" cold. Then roll the engine over counter clockwise to bring # 2 up to TDC and do those valves. This will end up giving you the .020" hot clearance recommended in the books.

 

[garyedward]

Thanks Mike M for the advice. Valves adjusted and tractor starts and runs very well. I'm in northern Michigan and will not be driving the tractor and will only start it a couple of times before Spring. Since the head bolts need re-torquing when the tractor is "hot" is there a problem with not doing that until the weather warms up bit? If so, can readjusting the valves wait until warm weather too?

 

[Mike M]

It can likely wait. But if it has been run a couple of times there is a good chance you may already be able to get some movement on those head nuts if you recheck them. I have already had some I could move when rechecked after setting for awhile and not even having ran.