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FE hydraulic lifter adjustment -correct procedure?
My FE has some lifter tick on one bank and I want to adjust the valve train. It has a mild hydrualic cam with adjustable rockers. Just over 2000 miles.
I found two procedures; 1. Bleed the lifters and then set clearance between valve and rocker tip at .100" - .200". Obviously, each tappet must be on the base circle for adjustment. 2. Determine 0 lash by rotating the push rod until slight resistance is felt and then go 1/4 - 3/4 turns more. Each tappet must be on the base circe. This is the method I am familar with. What method is used by the top FE builders like Keith Craft, Barry, Brent Lykins and others? Thanks. John |
Set the intake valve when the exhaust valve is starting to open. Set the exhaust valve when the intake valve is starting to close. That ensures that the lifter is on the base of the lobe.
When you get there, loosen the adjuster up. I don't look for how freely the pushrod spins....there are too many variables there. I "feel" for how much axial play (lash) there is in the pushrod. When I get to zero lash, then depending on what rockers/lifters I have (not including short travel lifters), I go anywhere from 1/2 to 3/4 turn past that. Just take your time and sneak up on it. The biggest part is making sure that the lifters is on the base of the lobe and that you have a feel for when you get to zero lash. |
I agree with Brent. move the pushrod back and forth in your fingers(twist) and move the pushrod up and down at the same time to determine your zero lash mark. It is difficult to find sometimes with the FE shaft rockers.
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I follow the same procedure, except that I generally go about a full turn on customer engines. This is because the FE adjuster is directly on the pushrod, compared to the fulcrum and ratio affecting other engines. One full turn on an FE is +/- .040 in preload - a pretty good place to be with most lifters.
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Be careful - Twist
be careful if you use the twisting the pushrod to determine zero clearance. My Crane Hydraulic rollers have very weak springs in them and it is extremely difficult to determine the zero clearance point.
I found it worked better to try and move the pushrod up and down, while holding it between your thumb and index finger. Found I could determine the zero lash point much more accurately. The "rotate to determine" method works great if the spring in the lifter body is relatively stiff but in my case, it was very easy to make an error Paul |
Thanks guys. I just finished the adjustment and everything sounds as expected.
John |
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