More problems, screwed or fixable?

[Sourdiesel408]

Okay so yesterday I was riding my go kart you know beating the crap out of it, and out of nowhere I heard some rattling when I stop I thought it was the clutch so I kept riding. come to find out after further looking and listening it was coming from my valve cover so I popped the valve cover off and there was a little play in the intake valve.so I looked at them both and I realize that the valve keep is missing from the intake valve.
so I ordered more to replace but if this is going to happen again or why did happen in the first place. I really don't understand this is a brand new motor just bought from Northern

 

[KartFab]

Time to return the motor man, don't even mess with it if its brand new and under warranty.

 

[Sourdiesel408]

Very true but see the problem with that is I bought it from a kid who built it and he claims to have lost receipt coincidentally huh.

---------- Post added at 05:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:10 PM ----------

Is there supposed to be a valve keeper for the intake side? I'm looking at new heads aND I'm surprised but I don't see them on the intake side only the exhaust side.

---------- Post added at 05:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:56 PM ----------

My motor is ironton 208 cc

 

[KartFab]

a little play in the valve? What do you mean by that? like back and forth? Valves should only go up and down, so 'play' could be a very bad thing that shouldn't happen, ever.

At top dead center the valves should have a little bit of space between the end of the valve and the rocker arm... which could be the 'play' you are talking about. Do you know how to check and set valve lash if there is too much 'play'?

I know a little bit about engines (only enough to get in trouble) but i don't know what a valve keeper is. Are you using the right word for what you are trying to explain? Are you talking about the valve spring retainer? That's only on the exhaust from what I have seen (which isnt much), and an engine I was working on had a little seal for the intake valve but that was an oil seal.... no valve spring retainer. For the exhaust, it had a lash cap, and the intake didn't. so thats also a difference just looking at the two.

 

[Sourdiesel408]

Yes there is play back and forth I will check if its only at top dead center which is when the valves is closed correct? Yes that's the word i mean about the valve keeper, retainer or locker are all the same thing I believe. And from what you're saying and what I have seen there is only supposed to be it on the exhaust side is this correct?

---------- Post added at 06:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:32 PM ----------

How do i check if I need to adjust the rockers I'm definitely hearing something in the valve cover. But if you're saying that there's not suppose to be a retainer on the intake side then it's obviously not that.

---------- Post added at 06:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:52 PM ----------

If anybody has some insight please help I'm stressing a bit over this. Could be worse I guess, how do I know if engine is at top dead center? Thanks in advance

 

[Sourdiesel408]

Play in the rockers my bad I said that wrong earlier

 

[mckutzy]

The only thing of what your describing is the lash cap..... yes in this case it is the exhaust valve...

This is under the rocker, against the valve over the valve spring "keeper" retainer ect.

 

[Sourdiesel408]

The only thing of what your describing is the lash cap..... yes in this case it is the exhaust valve...

This is under the rocker, against the valve over the valve spring "keeper" retainer ect.

Yeah I figured that once I did more reading online. I'll adjust my rockers cause that's really all that's left to be ticking in the valve cover.I'll go ahead get a feeler gauge tomorrow

 

[Poboy kartman]

There shouldn't be side to side play whether at TDC.....or about to drop out of the hole!

EDIT: Oh wait! !!! Rocker arms....I realized you weren't talking about valve stems....Carry on....

 

[Sourdiesel408]

There shouldn't be side to side play whether at TDC.....or about to drop out of the hole!

EDIT: Oh wait! !!! Rocker arms....I realized you weren't talking about valve stems....Carry on....

Yes my friend rocker arms... so how do I go about making sure its at TDC before I start tightening rockers

---------- Post added at 10:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:08 AM ----------

Also what should my valve clearance specs be for exhaust and intake. I've been looking around everywhere but I can't find it. or it may be other engines are the same I don't know

---------- Post added at 11:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:48 AM ----------

Engine is ironton 208cc

 

[Poboy kartman]

Loosen the spark plug and turn the engine over until you hear air leaking out. Then take the plug out and put a screwdriver ( or dowel) in the hole. As you continue to turn the engine over, the screwdriver will stop coming out of the hole. That's the point at which you should set the lash.

 

[Sourdiesel408]

Should valve lash be .15 or .20? It's not a predator so hard to find out precisely. It does look exactly like a stock 212 predator head, but my engine is a ironton 208cc

 

[Sourdiesel408]

Does anybody know what the valve lash should be for this engine?

 

[Poboy kartman]

Apparently not. I tried Googling a bit but didn't make out any better than you. I did come across a place to ask Northern Tool questions but it didn't work for me.

I would call Northern Tool and ask them for some direction. Or maybe some small engine repair shops. The stupid manual I downloaded lists "check valve lash" as a once a year maintenance....but doesn't list specs!!!!

If I were going to give it a shot in the dark I would go .004 intake , .008 exahust.

IIRC...That's the older Predator specs, I believe the newer ones are .003" for both.

Wait!!! I know someone that HAS to know!!! Can you speak Chinese?

---------- Post added at 11:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:21 AM ----------

You do have some leeway in valve lash anyway. As long as there is some clearance at operating temperature....even a very very small one...(while running) ...the engine will work just fine. Factory specs have a little extra for saftey...

I learned that those in the know set the valve lash on Toyota 22re engines a thousand tighter than minimum factory specs. If you think about it: that will make the valve open a hair sooner and give it a hair more lift.

Conversly, the opposite will happen if you are a couple of thousands loose, but the engine will only loose a very small amount off peak performance and still run very well. It may wear a little faster, but if it runs well and the rockers aren't noisy...It's probably fine.

to the forum and please fill out a profile location when you get a chance. This place is more fun when you do.

Oh...forgot to mention what happens if you get too tight or loose...(so you can play with it if you wish) : too tight on the intake and it will cough out of the carb. Too tight on the exhaust and it will pop fire out of the muffler. Too loose on either will make noise. But it's best to find those factory specs. Good luck!

 

[Sourdiesel408]

You the man lol I guses this is how I learn. But the rockers do rattle tiny bit only when I stick my ear right next to the valve cover when its running though. if I'm just you know sitting on it or standing around while it's idling I don't hear it. Am I possibly just over thinking a bit?

 

[Sourdiesel408]

So I Havenot had any luck finding the valve specs, I talked to the guys at Northern and they said they think it's the same specs as a gx160. What does anybody else think? I know the 160 is a smaller motor then my 208cc so I don't know how true this is. Thanks in advance

 

[OzFab]

Valve lash specs for a GX200 & GX160 are the same (0.004" inlet, 0.008" exhaust) so those figures should be ok...

 

[Sourdiesel408]

The guy at Northern said it's. .007 intake and .008 exhaust didn't seem accurate to me

 

[Poboy kartman]

The guy at Northern said it's. .007 intake and .008 exhaust didn't seem accurate to me

Sounds totally feasible to me....go with it.

You know...just to go off on a tangent here...I spent some time as an advisor on Yahoo Answers....mainly because If I'm a Cancer survivor , and constantly people would ask : "Do I have Cancer?"

And I ,incredulously....couldn't believe...that they would even ask that question!

You don't jack around with Cancer....(true...most of these posts were teenagers witb pimples) ....but WTF....what??????? Really???,,, What is the point of that worthless banter? If you actually have Cancer....and some idiot tells you you don't....you're just gonna let it grow and go downhill.....

If you don't....and some idiot says you do....you're going to stress for no reason....

I don't get it ....people are stupid!

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

....people are stupid!

Amen.