valve to piston checking tool

[Dragsinger]

This is without question a positive checking tool

[FireSale]

Send it back, Larry. Got to be a cheap Chinese piece and won't last a week. Look at that machining! What did they cut it with, a rip saw?

Woodfin deserves Shiny!

Dale

[NORMAN BARNARD]

well "duh"....did it come with a manual????

[Dragsinger]

I had a lumber jack cut it with a chain saw

[Dragsinger]

seriously,

because of angle milling and valve radius etc it is only specific to my engine. I initially cut the damaged head out of curiosity then realized it could be a cool visual aid.

I may touch up some of the chain saw marks with a rasp

[Ed Wright]

I made a little fixture that hooks on my Jessel rockets at the push rod end, uses a 1/2" break over, using the actual heads & used head gaskets, "checking springs" installed, pull the valve down against the piston, measuring actual travel. Ex from 10 deg BTDC, until TDC. Intakes from TDC. to 10 deg ATDC. Two degree increments. I have checked mine with checking springs vs racing springs. On mine, subtract about .004" from the checking spring VTP clearance. I have learned how much I need with checking springs, so only check it that way now.
This works for me. If a pro has a different recommendation, I defer to them. This is just how I have done it for several years.

[Mike Fuller]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

I made a little fixture that hooks on my Jessel rockets at the push rod end, uses a 1/2" break over, using the actual heads & used head gaskets, "checking springs" installed, pull the valve down against the piston, measuring actual travel. Ex from 10 deg BTDC, until TDC. Intakes from TDC. to 10 deg ATDC. Two degree increments. I have checked mine with checking springs vs racing springs. On mine, subtract about .004" from the checking spring VTP clearance. I have learned how much I need with checking springs, so only check it that way now.
This works for me. If a pro has a different recommendation, I defer to them. This is just how I have done it for several years.

This has worked great for me for the last 25 years.

[west coast]

I don't use checker springs anymore because the difference between them and the real ones is a lot bigger spread then what Ed is seeing on his combo. Everybody's combo will be different.

[FireSale]

Jim, Mike and whoever:

Since what you're measuring is the distance from the seated valve to the top of the piston, why does it matter what weight spring is holding the valve closed? I know we are talking several hundred pounds of pressure difference between checking and racing springs, but at 0 rpm seated is seated?

Dale

[Dwight Southerland]

Deflection in the valve train with the high pressure springs. Try it both ways and see for yourself.