Can I check valve clearance w/o puting motor into time?

So I overhauled the motor: new rings, honed cylinders, and had a valve job done. I put the cylinders back on and now I need to check the valve clearances.

Is there a way to "benchtop" check the valve clearances w/o having to put the head on the cylinders and re-time the motor?

Thanks guys.

You can check the valve clearance without having the head on the motor. One way is to put the head on a couple 2x4's spaced so that the valves can be opened without hitting the boards. Tighten the cams into the head and tighten. Check the clearances by turning the cams as needed. This will get you close. When you install the head on the engine and get everything buttoned up, be sure to recheck the clearances. After the head is torqued, the clearances will probably change some.

A word of caution: when bench shimming don´t install both cams at once, do one cam at a time. Install one cam, measure the clearance for each valve and write them down. Remove the cam, install the other one and repeat the procedure.

If you have both cams installed at least one valve on each side will be open/partially open - if you rotate either cam at this stage (cams not being timed because of missing cam chain) you run the risk of intake/exhaust valves hitting each other and possibly bending.

Thanks for the info, if I may ask one more question. Whats the best way to turn the cams over. I tried very quickly with my hand and wench and couldn't get them to budge. I surely don't want to damage them while turning. Thanks again guys.

ZoomVroom wrote:

Thanks for the info, if I may ask one more question. Whats the best way to turn the cams over. I tried very quickly with my hand and wench and couldn't get them to budge. I surely don't want to damage them while turning. Thanks again guys.

Ditto, they def aren't easy to turn.

I use a boxend wrench on the cam sprocket bolts.

Using the box end wrench as you suggested worked like a charm. Thanks for the help, i got everything lined out on the bench which made it a shootton easier.