Need a bit of help on adjusting valves on a 22r.

[thebigron]

I'm new to this forum, but have been reading some posts on setting the valves on a 22R .
There is a lot of help here, but would like some more help please. Got this 81 pickup from my dad who only has 90 k miles on it. He states he has not set the valves period, ever. Since I have an oil leak from the valve cover and need to replace that gasket anyway, thought I would give it a try. I will be looking for broken timing chain plastic guides and the spacer wear problems on the #2 and #3 bearings like "Rycam" has written about. Also have read about the smoke puff as I change gears, especially if I am idling for some time before starting off. As I understand the valve guide rubber boots need to be changed. Can this job be done by a novice while I am there? I did adjust the valves on a 1972 Datsun pickup a dozen times years ago and removed and replaced a rebuilt head on the same engine without incident. Any comments will be apperciated. Thanks.

[fredk]

if it aint broke, dont fix it, if ya cant hear the valves and it idles smooth, leave the valves alone, but do look at the chain and all when the cover is off, I have nearly 500k miles on mine and I have never touched the valves

[toysarefun]

While your in there is all. If they've never been checked its likely they are a bit off, but still.., it can be trickier than you think to get them back right on as they can get a bit worn from the cam. The best way is to order new adjusting screws, you need 8 of them, they are only about 2.50 each. Then she will really purr like a kitten again..

[Rycam]

If you have a 1981, I think your engine should have steel chain guides already.

Worn valvestem seals should probably be left alone. To get to them, you would need to drain the coolant, remove the head bolts, and lift the rockers/shafts out as a unit (the coolant level runs above the loosened headgasket---scary!). Then, you would have to push a cotton rope into the cylinders to keep the valves up as you remove valvesprings and keepers. Using compressed air to do the same thing would be scary.

You should get new tips ONLY FROM THE DEALER $4 each, and the Toyota intake rocker spacers. Don't remove the tips all at once. Remove the old/install the new tips in the proper order according to adjustment sequence procedure. An initial .008" on the intake, .012 on the exhaust will do to get the engine running and hot for final adjustment. Many people choose to adjust them .007" intake, .011" exhaust. Some say this makes it quieter, I just never got around to trying this myself.

I have been happy with the FelPro valvecover gaket set. I don't know how much it is at the dealer. If want to take a short-cut, the only adjuster tips that may really need to be repaced are on the #2 and #3 intake side.

[87_SR5]

I have a question while you guys are on this subject. With 160,000 miles on my 22RE, I was checking my timing chain, and while I was at it, I figured I would adjust the valves because I knew they had never been done before (at least I haven't done them and I suspect the previous owner didn't).

Before I adjusted them, I couldn't hear any tapping at all. I sort of checked the clearences before I adjusted them and they seemed really, really tight. I adjusted them to .008 IN and .012 EX (engine hot), and got it running. Then, I could hear a distinct tapping from what it sounds like, just one valve. I took it apart again and tried readjusting, but got the same tapping at the correct clearance specs. I readjusted a couple more times in hope I did something wrong, but I always ended up with one valve tapping.

After I changed my timing chain, before I put it back together, I adjusted the valves to .007 IN and .011 EX (engine cold). Still, the tapping remains today. Is this tapping not going to go away unless the valves are adjusted back to how tight they were before? (I don't know the exact specs they were at, but they were tight....I thought they would be loose after all those miles)

Should I take a look at the adjusting screws? Could this be causing it? I know there is an alignment issue with the rockers that can come up with the #2 and #3 (http://www.wheelingadventures.com/Tech/Fixs.htm), but I took a good look and it seems the spacers are already oversized and not worn.

I was bored and messing around with my camera...I recorded the engine tick if you want to hear: http://www.members.aol.com/jamy4us/truck/yota/tick.wav

Any input would be great. I guess this isn't that big of a problem, I would kind of just want to know why only one valve would be tapping when its at the same specs as every other valve.

Thanks

[qsd-dan]

Hi 87_SR5

I had the same problem at that exact milage as well. From posts I've read at yotatech.com, I found that the the screw adjusters in the rocker arm wear in an "hourgalss" pattern and cause these symptoms. Sure enough, this was my problem. When this happens, it is darn near impossible to properly set the lash correctly. One post instructed to purchase these replacement screw adjusters from the dealer ONLY. This should cure the ol' diesel sounding 22re :>)

Dan

[87_SR5]

Originally Posted by qsd-dan

Hi 87_SR5

I had the same problem at that exact milage as well. From posts I've read at yotatech.com, I found that the the screw adjusters in the rocker arm wear in an "hourgalss" pattern and cause these symptoms. Sure enough, this was my problem. When this happens, it is darn near impossible to properly set the lash correctly. One post instructed to purchase these replacement screw adjusters from the dealer ONLY. This should cure the ol' diesel sounding 22re :>)

Dan

Thanks, I really appreciate it. Do you know why the valve clearances were so tight after that mileage? I thought they would be loose. Well, I guess I shouldn't be asking this question to you, who knows, maybe the previous owners did adjust them...just really tight. I know I haven't touched them in the last 30,000 miles. I just didn't expect the guy we purchased the truck from do any mechanic work on it.

Will I be able to tell that the adjusters are worn just by looking at them?

Anyways, thanks again for the help. I will get some adjusters and see what happens.

Thanks

Oh yea, does anyone know the TOYOTA part# for the replacement screw adjusters?