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...

[Jake Raby]

VALVES DO NOT HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED EVERY 3,000 MILES!!!!!

I recommend every 6,000 that the valves should be checked... If the valves are tight its ONLY because of one reason and thats the fact theat the engine is running "over temp" and things are expanding and contracting too much.

It has been 3 years since a single valve needed adjusting in my 912E engine... I have checked them when I think about it, but have not needed to adjust a single one after 94,000 miles! The key is monitoring head temps and if the gauge goes over 400, then check the valves because they will be *tight*.

If your valves are tight, save the time of constantly adjusting them and spend it on finding and solving the problem thats the root of the tight valves- else you WILL be VERY sorry when something goes "BOOM" out of the blue one day while the car is running perfectly fine.

Buy a CHT gauge and live by it.