How often to check valve lash

[JBtoro]

I agree with the folks who suggest listening for valve rattle a sign. If it wasn't for the tediousness of having to spend at least an hour scraping off the gasket seal gunk, I would check them as part of annual routine maintenance.

 

[bertsmobile1]

That is why good mechanics fit gaskets and for engines where there are no rocker gaskets available, had cut & fit them.
Some gasket goo on the cover side to make the gasket stick to the cover & some axel grease on the other side so it strips clean & free.

When I first started I used to adsorb the cost of cleaning off silicon but now I include it in my invoice.
Most sealing silicones are soluble in petrol so some petrol in a bowl with about a 1 square inch piece of scotchbrite type scourer will have it all gone pretty quickly
Stuff the inside of the housing with kitchen towel to adsorb the petrol and prevent the scotchbrite from getting into the engine.
Keep the pad very wet and change it often.

You can get pads that fit a small die grinder that are made for just this purpose from auto parts stores, much quicker but a lot messier.

 

[7394]

Bert- I agree with ya on making the gaskets. I do it too.

Getting to be a lost art. I keep various gasket material around, for just those occasions.

 

[cpurvis]

Bert- I agree with ya on making the gaskets. I do it too.

Getting to be a lost art. I keep various gasket material around, for just those occasions.

I've made a lot of gaskets, too. I keep a tiny ball-peen hammer and multi diameter leather punch tool just for making gaskets.

With regard to using valve clatter as a guide to when to adjust valves, that's good but sometimes valves recede into the seat and valve clearance decreases. They don't clatter and are more likely to lead to valve and seat damage than a loose valve.

Not much of a believer in gasket sealer, either. Sometimes it takes a ton of effort to clean those surfaces.

 

[7394]

I've made a lot of gaskets, too. I keep a tiny ball-peen hammer and multi diameter leather punch tool just for making gaskets.

With regard to using valve clatter as a guide to when to adjust valves, that's good but sometimes valves recede into the seat and valve clearance decreases. They don't clatter and are more likely to lead to valve and seat damage than a loose valve.

Not much of a believer in gasket sealer, either. Sometimes it takes a ton of effort to clean those surfaces.

Very good point.

 

[Supalazy]

As previously mentioned.
If you can hear the rockers over the sound of the exhaust then the valve lash needs to be looked at.
Also if the mower is hard to pull start and sort of jerks is a sign that the valve lash is too big.
I do them every second service on most customers mowers so for most that would be every 4 years or so.

Don't mean to push in but I'm wondering if the^^^^^ above post would help my problems with my BR700 at all.?. The issue is this; it is very difficult to pull the cord, feels like there is way to much compression. So when I pull the starter rope either i have to pull it hard enough that it snaps back or I pull it out to maximum length. I've had a BR600, and another BR700 both were very easy to start. BTW it's about two months old and did it from day one. What should I look at? Thx in advance.

 

[Boudreaux In Eunice La.]

Don't mean to push in but I'm wondering if the^^^^^ above post would help my problems with my BR700 at all.?. The issue is this; it is very difficult to pull the cord, feels like there is way to much compression. So when I pull the starter rope either i have to pull it hard enough that it snaps back or I pull it out to maximum length. I've had a BR600, and another BR700 both were very easy to start. BTW it's about two months old and did it from day one. What should I look at? Thx in advance.

Are you talking about a Stihl Blower ??

 

[Supalazy]

Are you talking about a Stihl Blower ??

Yes

 

[Padroo]

A good way to make gaskets if the part is flat is to put it on a scanner bed and scan it, now you have your pattern.

 

[BlazNT]

A good way to make gaskets if the part is flat is to put it on a scanner bed and scan it, now you have your pattern.

This is how I make a gasket.