When you do your valve adjustments keep in mind that the cam flexes and as you are adjusting one side you are also throwing off the other side. Best go all the way around once then go back where you started and then check a second and third time and readjust as you need to. I just did that on my O-290 yesterday and had some fairly far off ones the second time around and finally had them all correct on the third try.
I also found on my VW that it was definitely necessary to readjust them not long after putting the cylinders back on. The cylinder hold down studs stretch and it is necessary to retorque the heads after so many hours and redo the valve adjustment. I don't know the number of hours off the top of my head, but it is in the Great Plains manual. Brian Kraut Engineering Alternatives, Inc. www.engalt.com -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Dan Heath Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 1:01 PM To: [email protected] Subject: KR> Good News and lousy mechanic. The mechanic of N64KR, that is. (ME). The problem with my Lo to No compression was a very poor valve adjustment. I have stainless valves, and hope that the hour that the engine has run on that bad valve adjustment, did not damage the exhaust valves. I failed to insure that the cam was properly positioned on #1 before starting the adjustment. Both valves were closed and I was at TDC, so I ASSumed that I had it right. Well I must have been 180 off, in fact, I know that I was 180 off. I need to learn to listen to myself. I remember that while I was adjusting them, I kept telling myself that I should have insured that #1 plug was firing in that position. I was also concerned about why they would be so far off as I had just adjusted them before the break-in runs. So many signs and, while I saw them, I did not do anything about them. This could have been real bad and I am not really sure why I did not notice it on my first flight. The engine will now turn 3200 static again and starts and idles properly. I hope to be flying again as soon as I can find some time. See N64KR at http://KRBuilder.org - Then click on the pics See you at the 2007 - KR Gathering There is a time for building and a time for FLYING and the time for Flying has begun. Daniel R. Heath - Lexington, SC _______________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to [email protected] please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html
