Setting valve clearances

[Superflash]

Just wondering if its possible to set the valve clearances by bringing each piston up to TDC on compression stroke then doing the adjustments for the inlet and exhaust on that pot, then turning the motor around one revolution so the other piston hits TDC and then setting those 2 adjusters?
The manual says fully open one valve and adjust the closed one etc, but seem to recall hearing about the TDC method somewhere. Just asking.
Cheers

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

I usually turn the engine to fully open an inlet valve and then adjust the exhaust for the same cylinder. Do this for both cylinders and then fully open an exhaust and do the inlet adjustment and then the same for the other cylinder.

Dave.

[limeyrob]

I follow the manual. That way I know I have the valve train where is intended to be for the setting.

[JulianS]

I also follow the makers instructions. Why would you not?The clearances given are for when the valve is fully closed which is when the follower is on the cam base circle, not on the quietening ram on the cam flank. So to set an inlet clearance the valve is fully closed when the other inlet is fully open. Same for exhaust.

If you set a clearance at tdc then the valve will not be fully closed and follower will already be on the rising ramp and part of the clearance already taken up resulting in a larger than intended clearance and more tappet noise.

[Superflash]

All good thanks. As I said, it was something that I'd heard and wanted to confirm it's veracity.
Will stick to the method in the book.

[Superflash]

Gents,

So finally got round to addressing this cam timing problem. The timing marks on the camshaft were way off so no big surprise it wouldnt start I guess.
Now, these timing wheels are witchcraft to me, so Ive simply done what they said in the Haynes manual.
The dot on the crank pinion was at the 11.30 position, so while the line on the camshaft was fully meshed with line on the idler gear, the opposite line was a couple of teeth out from the dot. However when I turned the motor a tad, they did mesh.

This sound about right? Oh, and the dot on the crank gear at the 11.30-ish position, the pistons are almost at TDC.

Cheers

[Superflash]

Well it finally lives. Finished putting her all back together this morning. 4th kick, she burst into life. Given the only major change was the valve timing, I think that was the issue. Sounds nice and strong other than a weird whistling noise coming from somewhere in the motor when I rev her. Next is to sort the clutch. Feels spongy and not disengaging fully.