The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-04-02
SET OF VALVES
OF IMPORTANCE
Few Realize Need of Adjustment
Of lifters-They Are Hard
to Reach.
THEY ARE OFTEN NEGLECTED.
Best Engine In World Will Lose Power
II II Is Not Given Attention at
Proper Time-Twisting Wrong
Nut Is Harmful.

One seldom realizes the importance
Of correct adjustment of the valve lift
ers, yet the best engine in the world
will lose power IL these are not prop
erly set.
Since they are usually difficult to
reach, dirty to handle, and do not
force themselves on the drivers atten-
ton. they are neglected until the trou-
BILE becomes really serious.
OF course IL they become noisy
the knocking Is so noticeable that the
owner Is forced to make adjustments
Immediately. But ordinarily these
parts receive scant attention and so
the loss of power Is attributed to either
the carburetor or ignition, until thor
ough overhauling of the motor leads to
the discovery Of the real trouble.
AS aforementioned. they may become
noisy, due to the fact that the space
becomes too wide. AS they rise they
give a hammer blow to the valve
stems, causing a knock which may
readily be heard. BY stopping the mo-
tor. removing the valve cover plates
and shaking them up and down the
ones out Of adjustment may readily be
located.
Examine Adjustment Carefully.
Sometimes several are at fault, so,
while about 1t, set all of them. Ex-
anime the adjustment carefully to I'M
derstand 1t, for much damage may be
caused by twisting the wrong nut. One
Is locking nut. which must be loosened
first. The adjustment nut is then set
to the right distance and the locking
nut fastened.
The opening should approximate
inch for exhaust
valves, and e-one-thousandths inch
for inlet valves. Use an ordinary bust
ness car as a gauge for the exhaust
valve clearance. If possible to have
card the right thickness 1t is best
70 do so. This can be readily meas
ured with a micrometer. A piece OF
notepaper is about right for inlet valve
clearance. 1t will be found difficult to
adjust the space correctly unless the
following directions are followed:
Place the desired gauge in space and
screw adjusting nut until It touches.
Now unscrew 1t either one-sixth or
turn. Then lock the nut
that holds 1t in place. Try the gauge
and see II 1t has just a slight fric-
ton.
Reason for Unscrewino.
The reason for unscrewing the ad-
justing nut Is that the lOcking-nut
pushes 1t up and so throws the ADJUST
ment out Of true. II the clearance be-
comes too great the valves open late
and close early.
Since they should move exactly
as the designer intended, II Is evident
that the engine will lose power IL
both ends of a stroke are cut on. III
the clearance Is too small the engine
will lose compression and with Ii
great deal of power. This Is due to
the fact that as the engine heats up
the valve stem lengthens.
AS they grow longer they use up
the space between valve stem and
valve litter. II the space is too small
the valve stem rests on valve litter.
As 1t lengthens the head Of the valve
Is lifted of its seat In the cylinder,
opening the valve and so losing the
comp ession.
II will be evident from this that
valve clearance Is one Of the impor-
tant things about motor and one that |
should be borne In mind and inspected
whenever one looks for causes OF lost |
power.