catalinajack
Guru
Several days ago I decided to adjust the valves on my Perkins powered generator. I always suspected that it had been a very long time, if ever, that they had been adjusted. The engine has 2,550 hours on it. Removing the valve cover was easy. Removing the cork gasket, not so much. Based on how hard the gasket was I am now reasonably certain that the valves had never been adjusted. I had to use a wire wheel on a die grinder to remove the gasket,
On to the adjusting. I checked the lash before adjusting each valve, I was not able to insert a .005 feeler gauge into the space on any of the valves. The spec is .012 for both the intake and exhaust. My guess is that the lash was about .003 before adjustment.
Adjusting the valves was quite easy. New cork gasket and I was ready to go. I can report that this engine runs a lot more smoothly and quieter. Beforehand, there was a lot of clattering which doesn't make me feel good. Clattering all gone.
I posted this experience as I am guessing that many boaters, including I, don't think about adjusting their engine valves. I adjusted my two Lehmans last year and had the same experience, smoother and quieter. A word to the wise so to speak.
Also, a big thanks goes to Ski In NC. Ski taught me how to adjust the running speed. Because of governor sag due probably to age, the generator end was not spinning fast enough to produce juice at or near 60Hz. It was 57.5Hz. As I write this I have my generator loaded up with two reverse cycle A/Cs, and two resistance heaters. It's 42 degrees at 10:10am on the Chesapeake. Anyway, the generator is putting out a steady 59.7Hz, about as good as one could wish.
So, here you go, another project for your to-do lists.
On to the adjusting. I checked the lash before adjusting each valve, I was not able to insert a .005 feeler gauge into the space on any of the valves. The spec is .012 for both the intake and exhaust. My guess is that the lash was about .003 before adjustment.
Adjusting the valves was quite easy. New cork gasket and I was ready to go. I can report that this engine runs a lot more smoothly and quieter. Beforehand, there was a lot of clattering which doesn't make me feel good. Clattering all gone.
I posted this experience as I am guessing that many boaters, including I, don't think about adjusting their engine valves. I adjusted my two Lehmans last year and had the same experience, smoother and quieter. A word to the wise so to speak.
Also, a big thanks goes to Ski In NC. Ski taught me how to adjust the running speed. Because of governor sag due probably to age, the generator end was not spinning fast enough to produce juice at or near 60Hz. It was 57.5Hz. As I write this I have my generator loaded up with two reverse cycle A/Cs, and two resistance heaters. It's 42 degrees at 10:10am on the Chesapeake. Anyway, the generator is putting out a steady 59.7Hz, about as good as one could wish.
So, here you go, another project for your to-do lists.