Setting Valves On Yanmar Tractor

There are many schools of thought on the best way to set the valves on a 4 stroke engine. Some books recommend that you align timing marks & check for top dead center of a certain cylinder. I have had the opportunity to work with some of the best CAT & !!"! mechanics around and the method below is the way they have all used. It is simple# it works on all engines# and you don$t need a manual to find timing marks or which cylinder should be T C. How It Works %se a socket or special tool to turn over the engine. &atch the valves move as you turn the engine over. 'ou will see the valves slowly go up# then stop# then start going down. 'ou want to check the gap between the valve stem & the rocker arm when the valve is e(actly in the middle of that $stopped) position. This is when the valve is completely closed & the push rod will be loose. *ick a valve+ we usually start at the back but it does not matter. ,oosen the locknut & ad-ust the bolt until you can feel a drag on the feeler gauge when you slide it in or out. If it is too hard to pull it out# you are -ust compressing the spring & need to loosen the bolt a little. If you can$t feel any drag# tighten it up a little. 'ou -ust want a little drag on the feeler gauge. All 'anmars set at ..../) to ....0) intake & e(haust so use a feeler gauge of that si1e. Tighten the locknut & re+check. 2ove to the ne(t valve. o the same thing until you have set all of the valves. &asn$t that easy3