valve train clatter

[Lowell Gehring]

Guys, are the 3cyl gas engines hard to adjust the valve clearance on? I get them set , 015 int and 018 exh, seems fine . Nice and quiet with the engine good and warm of course. Leave her set. Start her up the next day. Clatters right away, gets some better as the engine warms up. It is most notable at low idle. But won't stop clattering unless you readjust. I've reset them 4 or 5 times. Are my lifters too worn, or cam? This is my first 3cyl, I am used to the smooth hum of 4s or 6s. Any ideas?? Lowell

 

[Texasmark1]

What are you using for motor oil?

 

[Lowell Gehring]

5w30 wal-mart brand

 

[john_Bud]

(quoted from post at 20:26:17 03/09/12) Guys, are the 3cyl gas engines hard to adjust the valve clearance on? I get them set , 015 int and 018 exh, seems fine . Nice and quiet with the engine good and warm of course. Leave her set. Start her up the next day. Clatters right away, gets some better as the engine warms up. It is most notable at low idle. But won't stop clattering unless you readjust. I've reset them 4 or 5 times. Are my lifters too worn, or cam? This is my first 3cyl, I am used to the smooth hum of 4s or 6s. Any ideas?? Lowell

Are you adjusting them while on the base of the cam and not partly on the slope? That would be a common issue.

If we assume you are adjusting them correctly do they back off in operation? If they are backing off, the stop nut (I'm guessing as I don't have a 3 cyl) may be worn and not holding. Or the stud may be pulling out of the head.

 

[RickB]

Try using an oil that meets the viscosity and service rating that is required.

 

[old]

I learned this back before I could drive and still think it is true. It is by far better to have a little click click due to valve adjustment being a tad more open then to have the valves set to tight and if set to tight will in the long run cause a burned valve and a burned valve will cost you big $$$

 

[Ultradog MN]

I have owned and adjusted the valves on dozens of different old machines, motorcycles, cars etc and have never had the problem adjusting them like I do on a 3 cyl Ford tractor.
What I usually do is adjust them hot as per the book. Then start the engine and use a screw driver to the ear and listen to which tappets are clattering. Then readjust those that are noisy.
They are a PIA and I've never figured out why.

 

[sotxbill]

many times the valve and rocker are worn like (( so that they are no longer flat.

this means that when you put in a flat gauge in as shown, (l( ,you are setting the center of the high spot on the valve to the low of the rocker and are thus setting a gap about 4 times bigger than you think. valves are rockers both start out flat but after years of wear, they slowly wear to round.

but remember a tight setting can cause a valve to stay slightly open and cause a burnt valve.

 

[souNdguy]

even on a gasser.. I think I'd be using a 15w40 C rated oil. 5wxx is a darn thin oil to start with...

 

[Lowell Gehring]

Guys thanks for all the input. I probably used the wrong choice of words. The clatter was more of a hard knock. A little tick tick I don't mind. This morning I reset them again shying toward loose and finally ended up with a lite tick instead of a hard knock. I'll see how she sounds when cold. I probably should change to 15w40 oil. Thanks again, Lowell

 

[RodinNS]

Start with a diesel rated 15W40. Beyond that... look at the rockers and see if the valve hasn't worn a spot into them. If it has... I've set the feeler gauge aside and used a dial indicator on the rocker directly over the valve to set the clearance. Just set it to spec with 'free' play. As others have noted, you do not want a tight valve or it will burn.

Rod

 

[sotxbill]

diesels have a really bad fire knock...

running a can of bg 44k injector cleaner through it will help clean the injectors and make it fire a bit better and sound better.

 

[Lowell Gehring]

Well guys alls well that ends well. I worked it about 2hrs this afternoon doing gardens with the 3pt tiller. The po just had a short gutless glass pack on it. It really has a good bark when working. Sounds good though. Sos worked good. Split one of those aluminum ps lines at the fitting. Overall went well. Sure love that p/s. Thanks again for all the help. Lowell

 

[Texasmark1]

I'm thinking years back that I had a ridge (from wear) on the rocker that made a heck of a noise since sometimes it would hit on the ridge and then the rocker would slip some and hit the valve again.

Remembering........I ground off the top of the rocker arm flush and solved that problem.

Mark