Doing valve clearance adjustment..., they seem way too tight Options

[914zim]

Hey guys:

I wanted to check the clearances before I even started loosening things up and I'm finding they are way too tight (assuming I'm doing it right).

My 1976 914 only has about 76K miles on it and I'm not sure when the last valve clearance adjustment was done (if ever) and I've never done this procedure before.
I'm using the Cap'n's adjustment procedure and I'm looking at the chart that's provided.

Here's the issue... I can't measure any more than .006" on ANY valve! Most of them are between .002" and .005". I can't even get ANY size gauge on 2 of the valves!
What am I missing here? It was a little difficult to get the "rocking" part figured out, but I think you're supposed to measure when the opposing valve is at it's very lowest point. I this correct?

Is it possible that my valves clearances could really be this tight, or am I missing something major here? I was expecting them to be way loose if anything.

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions from the experts on this.

Andy...

[DNHunt]

Andy

If you are not sure use the top dead center method to check your settings. Better yet offer some beer (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beer.gif) to someone who's done it before to look over your shoulder. I suppose because I get kind of anal I would double check. Remember you want the lifter on the base circle of the cam when you check valve lash. Crusty's method relies on a couple of things. 1) 2 lifters on opposite sides of the enginge share the same cam lobe and 2) when one of those lifters is on the nose the other is on the base circle. So, if one valve is fully open the other is fully closed and can be adjusted. Once you get this method down it's easy and fast cause you never have to get out from under the car. My problem is I always get confused this way so I usually use the top dead center method. Somehow it just seems easier to remember. On a best case senerio you just got things screwed up with the position of the cam when you checked them and you just need to readjust (I suspect). Worst case, valve seats are dropping (I doubt). Anyway, get it checked out.

GBallantine

Do you really mean chromoly valves? I suspect you mean chromoly pushrods, in which case, the lash is 0.0. I like the rocker to just be able to move laterally on the rocker shaft with no feeling of lash. Much easier than messing with a feeler gauge.

Dave