914 newbie valve adjusting help is here., A "How-To" for newbies. Options

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

http://www.icbm.org/erkson/personal/porsch...alve_adjust.htm

I got under my car to perform my first in-car valve adjustment (my very first 914 valve adjustment was with the engine out of the car). Wow, was I baffled as what to exactly do (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) I didn't find it easy to adjust the valves with the tires and heat exchangers in the way and my neck and wrists were put into unnatural, fatigueing positions, along with limited visibility. So after some pondering and inspecting, this is what I came up with. The manuals and web sites do a poor job explaining EXACTLY what needs to be done for an in-car valve adjust as far as GETTING to the valves.

This should allow beginning 914 owners a very good path to getting to their rocker assemblies with minimal contortions, bumped/scraped hands, and neck cramping. It is assumed the person knows how to adjust valves, they just need a way to get in there. It's a quick procedure as well; removing the heating system parts actually goes very quickly thanks to its simplicity (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif)

Hope it helps... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/type.gif)

[PinetreePorsche]

I haven't tried both this method and The Cap'n's, so I'll withhold judgement till I've done 'em both at least twice. But, even as a 20+ VW van owner, with many adjustments on them, I was intimidated by the very close quarters on my "new" 914. So I give a thumbs-up to the Nut's suggestion of clearing out the brush--mostly air tubes--regardless of which bean(cylinder/rocker) counting system we use. (And someone's suggestion of using a rag, not a lever, to pull down the bale wire is great in these tight quarters!) Since none of the removal operations are difficult or time consuming, once rusty screws are free and the best angle of approach found, I'm all for making space to work. Since we'll be doing this one or more times a year, get the rusty screws working once, lube them, and have no troubles on the next go-round. Thanks, Nut

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

...(And someone's suggestion of using a rag, not a lever, to pull down the bale wire is great in these tight quarters!)...

Excellent contribution. I'll add that to my web page. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)