S1 2.8 Tappets

[drmaloney]

Hi
I have had several attempts to adjust the tappets on my S1 and I now have 5 cylinders that are fine and one that is still a little out.
Does anyone have any experience of adjusting the little buggers. The adjusting nut on top of the rocker arm is incredibly tight and so is difficult to get fine adjustment right. I have consulted the bible and even the Haynes manual for the engine and they say I am doing the right thing, but it does not seem right that I need to put a long extension on the 10mm spanner. Bearing in mind it takes nearly an hour to get to them and the same to put it all back, I would like to get it right next time.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Dave

[Barkychoc]

I think it is right that they are tight - there's no locknut on them is there?
I'm trying to remember back to my 2.3 granada days (and 14mpg )

[drmaloney]

Hi
There are no lock nuts, just very very tight b'stards
Dave

[GreenV8S]

I had some that were slightly dished so had to be set with a dial gauge - when set with feelers the gaps were always miles out. Also worth confirming that you do in fact have solid lifters that need to be adjusted; if you've got hydraulic lifters instead and try to set the gaps as if they were solid it'll be all over the place.

[drmaloney]

Thanks - they are definitely not hydraulic ones, just a good old fashioned push rod and rocker set up. When it stops snowing, I might try again!

[GreenV8S]

drmaloney said:

Thanks - they are definitely not hydraulic ones, just a good old fashioned push rod and rocker set up.

You sound confident and I'm sure you're right, but just in case you weren't aware I'd point out that they look identical from the top.

[Barkychoc]

Its the old 2.8 Pete - it didn't have hydraulic tappets did it? - wasn't that only some 2.9?