Today was a nice spitfire-preparation day, this weekend we will be cruising up the Costa Brava and along the French south coast. While doing my check of the rocker valve clearances I was thinking about the necessity of this procedure. I have always reasoned that due to wear the clearances can only become bigger, thereby producing a decrease in performance of the motor, and ultimately rattling of the rocker gear, but it wouldn't do any harm to the valves or the head. However if due to I don't know what reasons the clearance can also change in the direction of getting smaller that would cause trouble with overheating outlet valves etc. And make the rocker clearance check up all the more important.
Maybe anyone can reassure me that my line of thinking that the rocker valve clearances can only get bigger is right? has anybody ever found a clearance that had to be INcreased? (I haven't). And on another level, while I had the rocker cover off, I thought I would give it a good cleaning. First the outside only, but then I thought what the heck lets clean the inside as well. There was a (at least 10 but probably 25 year old) thick build-up of grease/oil which smelled horribly intensely of used motor oil. After removing it I thought I should have done so much earlier, actually every time I get the cover off, because probably this thick black sludge is contaminating your engine oil in no time. Anyone ever cleaned the inside of his rocker cover? any thoughts about it (useful or useless?). OK, I will start packing for the French Riviera now, Emiel. Spitfire 1500 TC Barcelona Spain. /// [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list /// Send admin requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool /// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive /// Send list postings to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// Edit your replies! If they include this trailer, they will NOT be sent.
