Best way to measure valve clearance?

PostPost by: Plus2soon » Fri Sep 16, 2016 10:07 am

Hi,

As all feeler gauges I have found are in steps of 0,05 mm, valve clearance measurements can not be done properly in comparison to the work shop manual tolerances. I would prefer use of a dial gauge but do not know the measure Technic. Please share you methods and equipment.

Many thanks in advance

Johan
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PostPost by: lotusfan » Fri Sep 16, 2016 10:30 am

Johan

I think it would be difficult to measure valve claerances using a dial gauge.

You are presumably in Europe if you can only find metric feeler gauges, 0.05 mm is close to 0.002 inches. You don't say what other thicknesses are available but normally you use combinations of feelers to give you the thickness you need. If you needed 0.008 inches you might use 0.003 and 0.005 inch feelers.

Have you considered buying imperial feeler gauges online from a UK supplier?

Hope that helps you.
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PostPost by: tcsoar » Fri Sep 16, 2016 11:23 am

Most useful tool I found is a micrometer, use it to check the thickness of the feeler gauges before use as most of mine are not as marked.

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PostPost by: rgh0 » Fri Sep 16, 2016 12:46 pm

You can certainly get feeler gauge sets that can measure to 0.02 mm accuracy steps or even 0.01mm steps

typically they will have 0.02 to 0.10 mm in finer .01 or .02 mm increments and then 0.2 mm to 0.5mm in larger steps so you can combine 2 or 3 to get the thickness you want.

you may need to go to specialist tool shops or measuring equipment suppliers as the stadard automotive shop typically has the 0.05mm step gauges you have found

cheers
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PostPost by: Plus2soon » Fri Sep 16, 2016 1:27 pm

Thank you All for instant answers.
I will contact my local machine shop and see if they can help find what Rohan suggests. Enjoy the weekend everyone!
Chers Johan
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PostPost by: mbell » Fri Sep 16, 2016 6:27 pm

Failing that they are very cheap here in the US so you could see about buying and shipping them. For example:
http://www.harborfreight.com/32-piece-s ... 32214.html

Which have all the right sizes for what the valve clearances should be.
'73 +2 130/5 RHD, now on the road and very slowly rolling though a "restoration"
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