Ok, I've done valve adjustments on my B18C5 and on one other B18C. No problems whatsoever.

I attempted to do a valve adjustment on my 87 CRX Si's D15A3 (1.5L SOHC 12V) - now it sounds like a diesel truck motor.

The valve clearance specs are - Intake (0.007"-0.009") Exhaust (0.009"-0.011")

I tried twice - First, I set the valve clearance to the tight side of spec (0.007 and 0.009). Bad ticking and VERY loud. Second try, I set the clearances to the loose end of spec (.009 and 0.011) Louder, tickier, more obnoxious.

The car drives fine, the difference has been negligable each time (before, after the 1st try, and after the 2nd try), except for the sound. Something is obviously wrong... but I've checked the clearances many times: before torqueing, after torqueing, I even rotated the engine once more to check all the valves again.

I probably should have left well enough alone, but when I got the car, no one knew how long it had been since the last valve adjustment.

I'm going to try again, I don't think it is possible for me to be any more exacting or thorough. Any other advice/tips are welcome.

 

Just do 0.007 intake and 0.008 exhaust and see how the motor likes that.

 

What is everyones take on slight drag I did it to the point where you can slide it in and it catchs just a hair. But Mine tick like a mother only on the D as well.

Friend told me he had this issue and turned into a piston slapping the head and getting worse with time. not sure that is our issue as I still feel no loss in power????? HOPE NOT!

 

I'm pretty lost too.
I have never had a problem on my B series, and in fact, I just did a valve adjustment on my friend's B18C-R, no problems at all. So, maybe I'm just D-Series retarded.

Slight Drag? When I can feel that there is some resistance, but not enough to change the level of force I am using to move the feeler forward and back, I consider that correct.

I'm hoping that I was just too tight at first, and then too loose on the second try. If not, I'm lost, as this motor has 150K+ (or maybe 200K, I really don't know at this point....) and the last thing I need is way out of spec valves possibly causing other mechanical issues.