help with valves,i think

[stratcat88]

well, just finished up installing rebuilt heads, new manifolds and risers. tried to turn it over and only belts are moving and not the crank. a freind installed the heads and i think he torqed down on the rods too much. would that keep the cam from moving? 1985 mercruiser 260hp with alpha 1. no #s. thanks.

 

[alldodge]

Re: help with valves,i think

well, just finished up installing rebuilt heads, new manifolds and risers. tried to turn it over and only belts are moving and not the crank. a freind installed the heads and i think he torqed down on the rods too much. would that keep the cam from moving? 1985 mercruiser 260hp with alpha 1. no #s. thanks.

The starter engages the flywheel which is connected to the crankshaft, the crank turns the pulley's. If the pulley's are turning the crank is turning. Did you mean the cam isn't turning and if so how do you know it is not turning.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: help with valves,i think

I'm with AllDodge here. something doesnt sound right.

 

[stratcat88]

Re: help with valves,i think

The starter engages the flywheel which is connected to the crankshaft, the crank turns the pulley's. If the pulley's are turning the crank is turning. Did you mean the cam isn't turning and if so how do you know it is not turning.

theirs nothing happening just the belts on the alt.,powersteering, and crank are moving but nothing else. he torqed the rockers to the specs out of the clymer 1986-1994 book. i read on this forum that their is no torq specs. they were torqued to 40lbs.and it sounds like no valve action.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: help with valves,i think

the belts can not move unless the crankshaft is moving. if the crankshaft is turning the belts are turning.

throw your clymer manual away.

make sure you have the right rocker lash instructions for the right style of rockers per the Mercruiser manual (found in the adults only section at the top of the forum) I can honestly tell you that for your 1985, you do not torque the rocker studs. you turn them 1/2 turn past no lash

 

[alldodge]

Re: help with valves,i think

theirs nothing happening just the belts on the alt.,powersteering, and crank are moving but nothing else. he torqed the rockers to the specs out of the clymer 1986-1994 book. i read on this forum that their is no torq specs. they were torqued to 40lbs.and it sounds like no valve action.

I still don't know how you are determining if the cam/valves are moving. If the valves are not moving then my first question would be did someone install the timing chain and gears?


If you don't know if the valves are turning, pull the distributer cap and crank the engine to see if it moves

 

[Bondo]

Re: help with valves,i think

theirs nothing happening just the belts on the alt.,powersteering, and crank are moving but nothing else. he torqed the rockers to the specs out of the clymer 1986-1994 book. i read on this forum that their is no torq specs. they were torqued to 40lbs.and it sounds like no valve action.

Ayuh,..... HOW are ya turnin' it over,..??

On the Starter,..?? If so, the crankshaft is most certainly turnin',....

 

[stratcat88]

Re: help with valves,i think

Ayuh,..... HOW are ya turnin' it over,..??

On the Starter,..?? If so, the crankshaft is most certainly turnin',....

on the starter bondo,and it sounds like nothing moving inside that engine. icalled the mech.he said he thought that torqueing down the rockers that tight was going to be a problem but he did what the book said to do.

 

[alldodge]

Re: help with valves,i think

on the starter bondo,and it sounds like nothing moving inside that engine. icalled the mech.he said he thought that torqueing down the rockers that tight was going to be a problem but he did what the book said to do.

Pull the distributer cap

 

[stratcat88]

Re: help with valves,i think

the belts can not move unless the crankshaft is moving. if the crankshaft is turning the belts are turning.

throw your clymer manual away.

make sure you have the right rocker lash instructions for the right style of rockers per the Mercruiser manual (found in the adults only section at the top of the forum) I can honestly tell you that for your 1985, you do not torque the rocker studs. you turn them 1/2 turn past no lash

thanks scott. i will be pullin those valve covers off right now.

 

[Bondo]

Re: help with valves,i think

on the starter bondo,and it sounds like nothing moving inside that engine. icalled the mech.he said he thought that torqueing down the rockers that tight was going to be a problem but he did what the book said to do.

Ayuh,.... Then the motor, Is in fact turnin' over,....

If it's lackin' Compression, Ya, I'd guess the valves are to tight,....

Like Scott said, go upto the Adults Only section, 'n download yerself a copy of the Factory manual, 'n adjust the valves again,...

 

[stratcat88]

Re: help with valves,i think

Ayuh,.... Then the motor, Is in fact turnin' over,....

If it's lackin' Compression, Ya, I'd guess the valves are to tight,....

Like Scott said, go upto the Adults Only section, 'n download yerself a copy of the Factory manual, 'n adjust the valves again,...

i'll do that right now. thanks alot and i'll let you know how it goes in a couple of hours

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: help with valves,i think

your going to have to get a drill primer and re-pump up the lifters to properly set lash. you squashed all the oil out of them.

if your mechanic is the one that tightened them down, find a new mechanic.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: help with valves,i think

Those drill pumps are free to borrow at most auto parts. Do the reading on how to set the valve lash.
I'd recommend pulling the distributor cap first, if the rotor is pointing at #1 do the static adjustments for the appropriate valves right then, and conversely for the others if it's aimed at #6. Otherwise just back them off before turning the crankshaft just in case there is a valve against a piston.
The reason the motor turned and you didn't hear or feel any compression resistance is because the valves were adjusted so tight that they did not close all the way.
I'd put the motor at #1 top dead center, loosen all the valves til the pushrods can spin between two fingers, mark & pull the distributor, run the oil pump off the drill pump tool, adjust the first 8 valves, put the distributor back in at #1, turn the crankshaft one revolution which puts the rotor at # 6, and adjust the rest of the valves.

You can save some time if you note the orientation of the oil pump slot on the distributor when you first remove it. If you put the oil pump back at the same angle when you are done priming the lifters, it makes it easier to stab the distributor at the right tooth.

If the motor is out and the front cover is off you can just watch the cam and crankshaft marks to get things to the right spots.
I hope your friend didn't cause any valve to piston contact. I'd verify with a compression test once it's assembled. When normally adjusted the Chevy pistons don't hit the valves. But yours was way over adjusted, I hope nothing touched!

 

[stratcat88]

Re: help with valves,i think

Those drill pumps are free to borrow at most auto parts. Do the reading on how to set the valve lash.
I'd recommend pulling the distributor cap first, if the rotor is pointing at #1 do the static adjustments for the appropriate valves right then, and conversely for the others if it's aimed at #6. Otherwise just back them off before turning the crankshaft just in case there is a valve against a piston.
The reason the motor turned and you didn't hear or feel any compression resistance is because the valves were adjusted so tight that they did not close all the way.
I'd put the motor at #1 top dead center, loosen all the valves til the pushrods can spin between two fingers, mark & pull the distributor, run the oil pump off the drill pump tool, adjust the first 8 valves, put the distributor back in at #1, turn the crankshaft one revolution which puts the rotor at # 6, and adjust the rest of the valves.

You can save some time if you note the orientation of the oil pump slot on the distributor when you first remove it. If you put the oil pump back at the same angle when you are done priming the lifters, it makes it easier to stab the distributor at the right tooth.

If the motor is out and the front cover is off you can just watch the cam and crankshaft marks to get things to the right spots.
I hope your friend didn't cause any valve to piston contact. I'd verify with a compression test once it's assembled. When normally adjusted the Chevy pistons don't hit the valves. But yours was way over adjusted, I hope nothing touched!

i,m going to print your instrutions out right now thanks.update, loosend all the rockers and NOW i can hear the engine working. was going to check the oil level before trying to start.pulled dip stick and no oil shown so we put 5 qts. of oil in and as i put the dip stick in i noticed the stick was shooting out the side of the tube. now 10 qts are in this motor. i am going to take a break now and then put this boat up for sale on craigslist. I,VE HAD ITTTTT!!!! thanks for everything. happy new year you lucky boat owners.

 

[thumpar]

Re: help with valves,i think

Just take it to someone. First you are using the wrong manual and no offence but it doesn't sound like you are the mechanic type. If you do want to work through it yourself work methodically and do it without the friend. We can get you through it if that is the route you want to take.

 

[stratcat88]

Re: help with valves,i think

Just take it to someone. First you are using the wrong manual and no offence but it doesn't sound like you are the mechanic type. If you do want to work through it yourself work methodically and do it without the friend. We can get you through it if that is the route you want to take.

not a mech. never wanted to be man just wanted to fish. i bought this engine from a guy on craigslist and i,m trying to clean up his mess,$2800.00 later. been dealing with this nitemare for a year. iWILL get this and i promise to look for my answers in the forum before i ask a question. thanks for the help.

 

[thumpar]

Re: help with valves,i think

Ask all the questions you want. It is better to ask a question and find out your were right than to not ask and find out your were wrong.

 

[stratcat88]

Re: help with valves,i think

Agreed. Nothing wrong in being honest and saying he is in over his head.

stratcat If you were really turning the motor over on the starter with no oil in it stop now and have someone qualified look at everything. Continuing as you are is going to be very expensive, very fast.

cant afford the good guys, so its the book,me and you guys. you guys helped me out wit my stratos bass boat and it turned out great. man just a little stressed with this project.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: help with valves,i think

breath deep. drink a beer. breath deep.

then drain the extra oil. we can get you through this. working on your motor is easier than you are making it.