Honda recommends that you have your valves adjusted every 30,60,90,120k miles. Who all here has kept this up? I've got 32k on mine, and I guess I'm going to get off of my lazy butt and do it. Hate to have to take the time to do it. Might just take it to the dealership and pay the 62.50 to get it done.

 

I think it is every 15k for gsr's. I have kept up with mine. Another one due in 1500, 2 weeks for me. If you have a gsr, you will need a special tool, or you will need to bend a 10mm wrench to get to the lock nut.

 

I'm told that the adjustment is only needed if you can hear some valvetrain noise, and that some dealerships won't even pull the valvecover if they don't hear anything.

When I get a new valvecover I'm going to adjust my valves, but unless I can hear something I'm not going to bother.

 

does it affect horseys??? or is it just a maintenance thing??
Will-

 

i do mine every 15K.. i dunno it feels better on top end.. seems to pullmore.. but maybe thats just my brain justifying all that labor i did hehe..


[Modified by GSRaCeRbOI, 2:00 AM 1/6/2002]

 

QUOTE]does it affect horseys??? or is it just a maintenance thing?? [/QUOTE]

It's maintenance.

If you've got a quiet engine (valve train noise) you're fine.

 

YES it effects performance. Take it in and pay the sixty bucks. I notice better gas milage and power. It is easy to do but not when it is 20 degrees outside.

 

I've done only the first one and I did it 4 times at that. One by the dealership...I ended not being satisfied, and learned how to do it myself, but only mastering it after doing it the third time. I never was buddy buddy with a tube of ben-gay up until then...yeesh.

I can trust in myself to tell you that you probably won't need the first valve adjustment (unless you've over-revved the engine or consistently redline it). I checked a friend's when he was at 35k and they tolerances were OK (he drove it pretty hard at times too - autoxing and a high speed roadtrip over a few states), and in the end...the engine was a hell of a lot quieter than mine (45k miles at the time).

The dealership won't do as good of a job as you could yourself...the tech's will probably be kinda sloppy on the tolerances and won't make sure that the tolerances are on the tighter side.

 

for those who have done it... I just used my 10 MM combination/box end wrench and a screw driver (along w/ help of a friend) and feeler guages... do any of you have the snap on tool and does it actaully make the job easier whereas i can do the valve adjustment myself and not have to bug my friends to help me out? is it worth the $50 to buy that tool? or should i just stick with the screw driver, and wrench? thanks in advance.. i was gonna buy one but just wanna get input before i buy it and feel like it was a waste of money..

 

The tool is made by schley. It is called a 10mm valve adjustment tool. They make it in 10,12 and 13mm I beleive. Make sure you get 10.

Anyway. I love my tool. It is like gold to me. I have owned 3 honda's in 5 years. Wish I would have had this before. I adjust my gsr in half the time it used to take me on my ls. I bought it since I did not feel like trying to mutilate a socket wrench.

 

where did you get it from? how much? did you buy it locally? (i notice you live in LA...Cali too).. i tried lookin for it locally couldnt find it.. any help/info on this would be appreciated.. thanks

 

I got my valve adjustment tool (10mm) from a Snap-On truck.. I don't think Schley makes the tool.. I know they have the Honda crank pulley holder, but didn't know they made the other.. You can go to any Snap-On truck and pick it up for $50 (maybe $60, but don't settle for anything more than $60).. Get angled feeler gauges from Sears or anywhere, really.. My gauge set is from .005-.020, and i use the 6, 7, and 8 thousands depending on what motor i'm working on..

Don't let the above make u think that this is difficult WHATSOEVER.. it's the easiest thing to do next to changing my air freshener insert.. (sometime i break a nail changing that damn insert)..

 

easy job, even using a 10mm socket and flat head screw driver. no special tool needed but I'm sure it takes less time to do it. atleast now its out of the way

 

sorry but this is a newbie question....

What exactly is a valve adjusment and how do you do it yourself?!?

 

http://integra.vtec.net/tips/valveadjustment.html

 

oh and just a little fyi...the REALLY easy way to get tdc (top dead center). take the driver side wheel off and put a ratchet on the crank pulley. then while the spark plug is out, put a long skinny (clean) screwdriver in the spark plug whole, and let it rest on the top of the piston. while you turn the crank the screwdriver will go up with the piston. you will be able to see tdc much better this way as to putting it in 5th gear and rocking the car.

 

Previously a hondatech member confirmed that the tool that snap-on sales is made by schley. That is what led me to them. Snapon is listed on Schley's website as a reseller.

I ordered it online. I cannot remember the website though. I think it was from skywaytools/toolweb. Go here http://www.toolweb.com/skyway/
The part number on the web site is sch88950. The part on the side of the tool itself is 88950. I think it is about 50 after shipping.

I am in studio city. Where are you? Maybe I can loan it to you to test it out. Got beer

Lastly, if you are doing a valve adjustment, your valve cover will be off. This makes using the cam sprockets much easier than a screw driver. There is no way to tell TDC precisely using this method. And please do not rock the car to move the engine. Get a large .5 inch ratchet.

 

thanks for the offer im in 626.. ive done it w/ regular tools (combination wrench, screwdriver, and feeler guages) w/ the help of my buddy before and im not due to do it until another like 6K miles... its not a hard job but i'd prefer to be able to do the adjustment myself w/o having to bug my frenz.. i guess ill pick up the tool and try it out..