Jump to content
Ultimate Subaru Message Board

ea81 valves adjusting


Recommended Posts

hello, the other day I took off my head and when i put it back on I couldn't figure out how to adjust the valves. I loosened the valve adjusting bolts and I rotated the engine to TDC by lining up the marks on the flywheel. I couldn't get a gap between the rocker arm and the valve, so i rotated the engine 360 degrees and still no gap. It just doesn't make sense. anyways, any information would be much appreciated, thanx in advance, -Jesse

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I didn't have the heads removed when I adjusted my valves. I was just doing a valve cover re-seal. (assuming that you have the timing gears set up right) I had the cap off of the disty. I turned flywheel to TDC and looked at the rotor to make sure that it was lined up to the #1 position. The rest I did according to the Chilton manual. Hope that helps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you have the original engine in your hatchback then it will have hydraulic lifters. The adjustment procedure is completely different then the older EA81s with solid tappets.

hmmm....I took off the valve assembly by sliding those bolts through the holes in the frame. Then when i pulled out the push rods, they were about 8 inches long and solid as can be. I don't think they are self adjusting because the adjustment bolt has a nut and a washer that bends up and locks the adjustment screw, so idunno, i just can't figure it out. -jesse

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think it does have the hydrolic ones, I took off the head and the valve assembly was romoved from the head, I haddn't loosened the adjustment screw when i tried to put the head back on, i just put the whole assembly against the head and I started to torque down the bolts to the head and the valve assembly wouldn't get snug against the head, so i loosened to adjustment screw just so i could get the head bolts torqued to the proper specs. dunno, mabee i just needed to rotate the engine, but now how do i adjust em? Whats an FSM?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A FSM is a factory service manual

 

They reason why the rocker assembly wouldn't sit flush against the head is that when the head was removed, the push rods no longer applied any force against the hydraulic lifter. This allowed the lifter to expand and suck in some oil. When you went an place the rocker assembly back on to the head, you were then re applying the pressure back on to the lifters.

 

Now to make 100% sure that you have hydraulic lifters, you need to check and see which style of push rods you. This picture here gives a good illustration.

Http://home.comcast.net/~c.moe/lifter01.jpg

The next two pictures are from my FSM showing the the procedure to adjust the hydraulic lifters. Please read them a couple of times before doing it.

 

Http://home.comcast.net/~c.moe/lifter02.jpg

Http://home.comcast.net/~c.moe/lifter03.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

I just did a search and came up with this post. I've got a heck of a tick on my hatch, sounds like they do when there a bout a qrt and a half low on oil. So I'm thinking of doing a valve adjustment. Hydro EA81 with about 10k on it from CCR. I've printed the pages listed above, but does anyone have any more insite before I tear into this thing??? Thanks, Tim.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IF the valves were adjusted properly to begin with, they shouldn't need adjusting. In this case your problem may be low oil pressure or stuck lifters.

 

They may not have been adjusted properly, like mine. Im having trouble with finding the "zero point". (see my post on that).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 years later...

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...