Do it. If you have asked yourself "when should I do it" or " does it even need it" then yes, it needs it and it needs it now. It takes like 45 minutes and is
worth the time. I am a diesel mechanic and have adjusted more overheads then I can count. I have checked the adjustment on quite a few of these B cummins engines and have never had any that were really out of specs.
The valve train on my engine has always had what I call a noisy sound to it. It has always been this way so I didnt think it was any thing to worry about. I was sitting there one cold morning letting the truck warm up and heard a very distinctive tapping noise at the rear of the engine. I decided it was time to do an initial valve adjustment check today since I wasnt doing anything else. I rolled the engine around and started at number one. There was not one single rocker arm that was within specs. The one that was making the tapping noise was way off. I couldnt see any valve stems protruding through the keepers excessivly to make me think its about to swallow a valve or anything. I think it was just a poor adjustment when it was built. Guys, check them, it costs nothing and any one can do it. It is amazing how much quieter and smoother it sounds. I just cant wait to see if fuel milage picks up any. It gets great milage like it was, this could only make it better? This engine has 30,000 miles on it and never tows anthing to speak of. It has a BD ram X box on it that has been on about 6 months total.

 

Thanks for puttin that fire under my but!! I have been going to do when I got the roundtuit. Thank for handin it over.

 

ditto on that. did mine at 50,000 and they where way out of whack. sounded like a brand new engine afterwards.

 

anyone know the stock intervals off hand?

Michael

 

Do you know what the clearances should be for exhaust and intake ? Thanks.

 

Intake =0.006-0.015 Recommended=0.010

Exhaust=0.015-0.030 Recommended=0.020

Planning to do mine shortly.

MikeyB

 

Do you think I should do mine? I've only got 2800 miles on mine, but if it could be off from the factory, would it be worth it?

 

I might let it got to 10,000 miles, but I promise youre not going to hurt if if you do it now. I like to give things time to break in and then do it but its up to you. What ever you do, DONT let it get 30,000 miles on it before doing it. It will just dissappoint you when you see how bad off they are.

Today was my first drive in it since the adjustment. Man what a difference. The truck is so quiet on the interstate and SO much smoother. I pulled up to the mail box and rolled the window down and didnt have all the strange noises bouncing back at me like I was used to hearing. The low end responce is noticably different. I dont have to push it as hard to keep it at speed it seems.

 

Thanks for the vital info. I will deffinately check my valves when I am servicing the truck next.

 

does anyone have a link to a "how to" on the 3rd gens? im creeping up on 30K miles......

 

Scroll down to post number 3 on this link and it tells you all you need to know.



https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...justing+valves

 

would a dealership or a cummins store do this for 1 hour of labor?

 

I have a feeling that a dealer will hit you for about 2 hours to perform this repair. Its just the way they work. I will see if I can find the flat rate in my labor manual and see what it says.

 

My old motor manual is showing 1.30 hours flat rate. I bet they will hit you for 1.50 or 2.00 hours.

 

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...lve+adjustment

Do'em !

Greg