A while back I had the engine rebuilt and I've been running it a while now but always had a slight ticking sound when you start up and has gotten a little bit louder. I decided to finally try to ajust the valve lash when I should have checked it when I installed it. But , I took the rebuilders word. Anyway, I did a hot engine adjustment, I back off until it started clattering and then tighten down about 3/8 of a turn and it smoothed out the engine from how it felt before. I noticed that on 2 or 3 valves I had to back out about 1 1/4 turns before I heard clattering and the others were about 3/4 to 1 turn. I'm just wondering if I didn't tighten down enough because I've read 1/2 to 3/4 turn is recommended. Do you think I will have problems with a 3/8 adjust. thanks

 

Personally I think you'll be okay, long before I ever had a shop manual to look at, most of my "education" came from Dad, friends, etc...we always set them at a 1/4 turn past clatter in those days, never needed to re-adust them.

With that said, over the past 8-10 years, I've always went a 1/2 turn from clatter.

 

i try for a little more than 1/2, maybe 5/8. i ithnk you'll see most people use 1/2 to 3/4 a turn

 

If it aint broke don't fix it! Personally I would have adjusted with the engine not running because I can't tell which one is making which noise with all that racket and also no mess. Just turn the engine until the lifter is on the flat side of the cam tighten the rocker arm to zero clearance and then add anywhere from 1/4 turn to whatever number you heard works best or up to half the lifter plunger travel.Seriously don't fix it if it aint broke.