2 are ticking and I cant figure out which ones. No stethoscope and the screw driver trick doesn't work, and I cant hear which one it is.

 

use a piece of hose

 

also i tend to look at the rockers that have an abnormal amount of oil compared to the rest in a situation where there are only a couple ticking

 

how tight can I get them before I mess things up?

 

What type of lifters are you using?

 

Also, what do I tighten, the alen part or the bolt?
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No clue

 

if you are adjusting them with the car running... i usually wait until oil starts coming out of the pushrods and into the rockers then start turning until either the tick goes away or oil stops flowing if oil stops then you need to back it off cause that aint the right one...


as long as you arent using solid lifters it doesnt matter the type
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loosen the allen and tighten the bolt then retighten the allen

 

What kind of lifters are you using!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

okay he has a compuCAM....

what lifters he is using DOESNT MATTER... they are hydraulic roller lifters....So no valve lash

why do you think it is so important?

 

So loosen the allen and tighten the bolt, then tighten the allen again?

 

I have Found the clicking one by using a piece of tube, now how do I stop the clicking?

 

yep loosen the allen tighten the nut and retighten the allen once you are happy with the adjustment... the allen is there to prevent the rockers from backing off

with the engine running and obviously the valve cover off tighten that lifter until it just stops ticking

 

The adjustment techniques for solid and hydraulic lifters used to be different. I was only trying to keep this kid from destroying his engine from lack of information, so sorry to ask what I considered an important question.

 

Its all good, I need all the info possible. I can not afford to really mess it up. I am just trying to get my car tuned. Thanks a bundle. You guys helped alot. All I have to do is adjust it now. So let me get it straight. Loosen the allen, tighten the bolt still it stops ticking, and then tighten the allen.

 

With hydraulic lifters you want to tighten the nut until the clicking stops, then an additional 1/4 to 1/2 turn more. Some repair manuals say to go a full turn, but that's too much, and puts too much load on the lifter and cam lobe. Another tip when it comes to poly locks. If you tighten the allen bolt by itself in the last step, they're prone to backing off again. What you want to do is tighten the big nut until the clicking stops, then tighten the allen screw, then for the final tightening, turn both the big nut and allen screw together another 1/4 turn at the same time. Doing it this way locks them down good and tight.

 

Well, the bolt was to tight to really turn too much more, so i loosened the allen, then looseden the bolt and thightened the allen and tightened the bolt a half turn and it worked great. thanks

 

The allen set screw in the center of the rocker nut (which I'm assuming is what you are referring to with "bolt") jams against the stud when you tighten it down; this helps keep the rocker nut still. So without loosening the allen screw first, you shouldn't be able to turn the rocker nut (this is normal). To adjust them, you first loosen the allen screw (just a little if you are going to loosen the rocker nut, or more if you're going to tighten the rocker nut), then turn the rocker nut where you want it to be (zero lash). Then, as was mentioned above, tighten another 1/4-1/2 turn, tighten your allen screw, then tighten them both together another 1/4 turn. Just trying to clear this up for you so you understand whats going on.

 

Zero Lash?

 

Zero lash is when the camshaft lobe for the rocker you are adjusting is on its base circle, and all slack in the valve train is taken up (the very point where when you are tightening the rocker arm, you can't move the pushrod up and down anymore). Zero lash plus another 1/2 turn is a common setting for hydraulic lifters.