Valve Gapper

[classical glass]

Has anyone used or purchased a "Valve Gapper" from Precision Measurement Supply? If so how well does it work? Seeing that they don't manufacture them anymore I'm trying to get them to build me one. Just curious to how well they work to set up the valve lash on my side oiler.
Thanks....

[MAStuart]

A friend of mine got one a couple of months ago. Not sure what he is going to do with it. he might of found a youtube video of how to use it.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by classical glass

Has anyone used or purchased a "Valve Gapper" from Precision Measurement Supply? If so how well does it work? Seeing that they don't manufacture them anymore I'm trying to get them to build me one. Just curious to how well they work to set up the valve lash on my side oiler.
Thanks....

I've got one. It's kind of a fun toy. Frankly, you don't need it -- and it was pretty expensive when they were making it. You know, if you just have a dial indicator that has a locking flex post, like this: https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/3233989 it would work just as well. I have that and the flex post screws in to a special set of vise grips. It makes the dial gauge much more useful than just having the magnetic base. I think I could just lock the vise grips down on one of the big nuts holding the rocker shaft down then I could position the dial right over the tip of the rocker and get a clean read on the lash. Maybe even better than the Valve Gapper tool, which is a little temperamental with my Erson roller rockers. You might try that. And even though I have all that gauge stuff, I still use a Go-No-Go feeler gauge to set my valves. Here's a pic of my valve gapper tool though.

[patrickt]

This is what I'm talking about.

[HTM101]

I bought this during the summer. I can watch the needle of the dial indicator while torquing the rocker lock nut, and see if the gap is changing, or not.

[Gaz64]

That's a nice piece of gear.
Does the little piece at valve no 3 keep the rocker back towards the lifter, so you can sneak up on the final figure, and then recheck by hand?

[HTM101]

Originally Posted by Gaz64

That's a nice piece of gear.
Does the little piece at valve no 3 keep the rocker back towards the lifter, so you can sneak up on the final figure, and then recheck by hand?

Yes. It's spring-loaded and keeps a constant lift between the retainer and rocker tip, as you're adjusting downward. It doesn't interfere with the roller tip and the valve stem. I did several hand measurements with a feeler, and realized it wasn't necessary as the tool is so accurate.

[patrickt]

And it looks like you could flip it around and get a pretty good profile of your cam lobe as well. I love gizmos like that.

[HTM101]

A short video that's a good overall of it's use.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyIz3U5yyzE

[classical glass]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I've got one. It's kind of a fun toy. Frankly, you don't need it -- and it was pretty expensive when they were making it. You know, if you just have a dial indicator that has a locking flex post, like this: https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/3233989 it would work just as well. I have that and the flex post screws in to a special set of vise grips. It makes the dial gauge much more useful than just having the magnetic base. I think I could just lock the vise grips down on one of the big nuts holding the rocker shaft down then I could position the dial right over the tip of the rocker and get a clean read on the lash. Maybe even better than the Valve Gapper tool, which is a little temperamental with my Erson roller rockers. You might try that. And even though I have all that gauge stuff, I still use a Go-No-Go feeler gauge to set my valves. Here's a pic of my valve gapper tool though.

There is nothing in the instruction manual that tells you what the 1" x 1.5 piece of Aluminum is used for. It possibly may be used like a shim???

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by classical glass

There is nothing in the instruction manual that tells you what the 1" x 1.5 piece of Aluminum is used for. It possibly may be used like a shim???

Yes, that's exactly what it's used for. If the plunger foot of the Starrett gauge doesn't sit "flush and flat" on the top of the end of the rocker then you can put that flat shim in between the gauge foot and, say, the roller to make it better.

[classical glass]

Got it, thank you.