It feels like I've read just about everything written on the subject but when I tried to do mine, on one side, tighening 3/4 felt like I was tightening (maybe 7 ft/lbs). The entire other bank felt much lighter -- little resistence (maybe 1/2 as much). The difference can be repeated as I got the same pattern when I tried for a second time (leaving about 30 minutes between attempts for the lifter to recover).

So what does it usually feel like? How long do lifters need to recover?

I'm using the E I method and believe that I've got the sequence right and can recognize E and I valves.

 

I thought that this would be fairly easy. I redid them all for a 3rd for 4th time and all but maybe 2 or 3 were done with the lighter touch. It amazes me that the standard is so loosely defined. Especially where there is no hope of twirling the pushrod between your thumb and finger, at least not with accel runners and Crane roller rockers.

 

You should be able to spin the nut with your fingers till you feel no up and down movement of push rod. That is zero lash, turn another 1/2 turn and your done. It shouldn't feel like your applying torque until you turn the 1/2 turn. Are you sure about the firing order and which way the motor turns ??

 

I'm not a fan of twirling the pushrod because some people have really strong fingers. If you can't lift the pushrod up and down ( I can't either with my stepped guide plates), turn adjuster nut while rocking the rocker back and forth. You can hear and feel when there is an air gap. When you feel and hear the gap is gone, your at zero lash. Turning the adjuster nut with your fingers(loosely) till it stops is pretty much zero lash.

 

There must be a better way. The process requires a vague starting point and then is very precise about how much further to turn. We read discussions of whether 3/4, 1/2 or even 1/4 might be best for higher rpm engines but the starting point seems imprecise. It certainly doesn't seem to me to be something that can be determined within 45 or 90 degrees.

When I originally wrote about the two forces required, the higher force does feel as if I am compressing a spring. The lighter force does not. Does that help?

 

The starting point for the cam location is not precise, because there is a vast (most of the surface of the cam profile) that is the base circle. The "IE" method for finding the adjusting point, is just a means for locating the lifter near the middle of the base circle and away from the clearance take up ramps.

It feels like you are compressing a spring, because you are. The plunger in the lifter that you are preloading, when you adjust the preload is spring loaded.

 

I must not be clearly stating the question. I understand the process and the interaction of the component parts. That isn't the problem. My problem has to do with finding zero lash and the force required to turn the additional 1/4-1 turn to set preload.

How much torque does it take to turn the nut the remaining 1/2 to 1 turns -- to set preload? I suppose this is a problem because Permalocks turn so easily or that I can find a point of "slight" increase in resistance that might occur anywhere within maybe 45-90 degrees. It strikes me that the force required to turn the nut from zero lash should be consistent from rocker to rocker. Mine weren't .

If I stop tightening at the first indication of a change in resistance to turning the pushrod, the preloading turn can be done with little torque, hardly noticeable. If I tighten until it has clearly zeroed, then the preloading turn requires more torque.

I understand that there is a spring and I have found a reference to suggest that it takes about 10 lbs of force to compress it, but I am still looking for a sense of whether the turning force is more like 7-10 foot pounds or 3-5 foot lbs when using locking nuts like a Permalock. Also, does the preloading turn feel the same on all rockers or not.

Sorry, but I've done the entire set about 4 times so far and would like to finish the task. I do let the lifter recover between attempts.

 

I can set the preload with my fingers. Your only pushing against a small spring in the lifter. If it takes some real torque, your opening the valve.