what i've noticed is frequent adjustments are more due to the person doing the adjusting than due to parts wear. we usually create our own maintenance headaches.
You are correct. It takes finesse to learn how to do it correctly. Make sure you set them on the same spot on the backside of the lobe. If you're unsure about your "feel" try .001" larger and .001" smaller feeler gauges after setting the lash. Once a year lash is plenty on street car once everything is broken in. My race car I check around every 25 passes. I'm looking for changes that could lead to disaster as it runs .800" lift. I have yet to see any significant lash changes after 2 years and 200 passes.
Doug
thats pretty much what i do. i have the feelers for the setting i want but also some larger and smaller layed out for double checking. roller stuff i always double check!
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Ok I'm going to set my cold too - solid lifter and the recommendation is 0.016 - I have aluminum heads as well - where should I set them at?
the .016" is a hot setting that would give you .010"-.011" running clearance at the lobe. i'm a little **** here and get a little freaky when the tappet to lobe running clearance dips below .010", which will happen if you set the lash at .010" cold with an alum head. i would treat .016" running lash at the valve as the minimum, not necessarily as the ideal. i'm going to guess your using a comp cam,...? something to keep in mind that lash isn't about clearance at the rocker/valve tip but about establishing a running clearance at the tappet/lobe. it isn't practical or possible to set that clearance with all the parts bolted on, so working at the rocker/valve tip makes sense. always keep in mind that rocker ratio changes require lash changes to maintain running clearance at the tappet/lobe.