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Valve Clearances

To: "Triumphs@autox.team.net" <Triumphs@autox.team.net>
Subject: Valve Clearances
From: Scott Tilton <sdtilton@home.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 21:50:15 -0500
Greetings Fellow Triumphers,

I've been lurking and MIA from this list for a long time, and I'm about to 
break the drought with some questions.

I bought a 1970 Triumph TR-6 back on July 4th weekend and have been enjoying 
the hell out of it since then.  Actually the Toyota Truck died near the same 
time so the 6 has been my daily driver.

In addition to commuting to work, it has been through the VTR regional here in 
Richmond, (autocrossing is FUN!!)  went to events in northern and western 
Virginia, even went down to Euro 2000 autofestival at the BMW plant in South 
Carolina.  All in all I've put about 5000 miles on it since getting it.  All 
without a safety net (spare working car), nor even a cell phone.  (that's not 
exactly true. . . my wife has a cell phone and I can borrow a car if I really 
need to)

I'd love to hear that I'm not alone in my daily use of a LBC . . . it would 
make me feel a little less crazy.  Let me tell you though, there is nothing 
like necessity to force action.
Depend on your LBC for transportation and you'll find time to work on it.

It was probably the dependability of the Toyota for the last decade that put my 
TR-4's into deep comas.

Okay Okay . .so get to the question already Scott. . .

Valve clearances:

This TR-6 has some performance / hot rod goodies on it, one of which is an 
older performance camshaft.  It was probably bought and installed in the early 
to mid 1980s.
The former owner sent me the spec sheet on the "PAECO Superlift Camshaft" and 
pointed out the non standard valve clearances . . .   it says 

Intake Lash  .018"
Exhaust Lash  .020"

If memory serves me correctly stock is .010"

Does this seem pretty excessive to anyone else?

I'm wondering what the theory is behind valve lash.
I thought it was there because there was potential for thermal expansion and 
the valve stem could actually lengthen a tiny bit and the relative geometry 
between the rocker and the valve stem would change.

Wouldn't want the engine to heat up and the valves not fully close.

Well . . . if that was the theory . . .what in the heck would make a valve stem 
get that much hotter and grow in length that much more?  

Maybe they think I'm going to run the thing at 6500 RPM.  (I drive it hard, but 
not that hard)


Currently I'm fudging. . . the valve clatter sounded very loud with .016" and I 
adjusted it down a bit.
Am I being stupid?

Anyone got some tech tips on the right way to adjust valve clearances?


Finally,  while recently reading the story of 

The "Diner" TR3 gets back on the road

(John Lye's and Chris Kantarjiev's journey to Savannah which I recommend 
reading: http://www.dimebank.com/Diner.txt )

I saw the following:

>We used one of the Clikadjust tools, which is truly a miraculous device. 
>Set all 8 valves in about 10 minutes.

Yeah I know John and should ask him myself. . . . but . . .

Does anyone know what a Clickadjust tool is?

Thanks in Advance

Scott Tilton
In Richmond Virginia (for a little while longer)
With TR-4 parts all over the place
And a TR-6 that's going all over the place.



 


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