I've been noticing that when I first start my car (engine cold), I hear a loud ticking, which quiets down after the car has warmed up. So I'm thinking it's time to adjust the valves. No problem.

I've done this before on three other Hondas so far. I've adjusted the valves on the type of valvetrain that requires valve lash to be measured between the actual cam lobe and rocker arm contact area. I've also adjusted the valves on an engine that requires you to measure valve lash from the top of the valve stem and the rocker arm (the latter method used of course on the S2000).

Fast forward to the end of the job. I just get done buttoning everything up and I start the engine. I hear a LOUD ticking sound. I'm thinking okay, I've got some clearances off, some engines are a little different when it comes to how much drag you should feel on the feeler gauge. I pull everything back apart to recheck all of my clearances. I check cylinder 1, perfect. I move on to cylinder 3, exhaust side looks good...and I almost have a heart attack when I look at the intake valves. One of the adjusting screws was missing the locknut! The adjustment screw was obviously WAY out of spec, and was the source of the ticking sound. I start to frantically search the valvetrain area, and I can't find the nut. My heart sinks when I realize that it probably went down an oil channel into the engine block. Then I found it! It was wedged in a little nook in the side of the head. I reinstalled the nut, checked clearances on all remaining cylinders, and then did a final check to make sure all locknuts were tightened securely (what I should have done in the first place).

As I'm finishing my little story, I realize that there's really no point to it. Other than this: tonight, I'm the luckiest SOB around. WHEW!

Oh yeah, and don't forget to check the tightness of all of those locknuts when you're done adjusting clearances.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Uncle Fester
[B]I've been noticing that when I first start my car (engine cold), I hear a loud ticking, which quiets down after the car has warmed up.

 

When doing your valve adjustment did you compress the springs first or just check the clearence under the end of the valve stem? and adjust accordingly when at TDC?

Let me know i would appreciate it!

 

daymnnnnn good and bad... lucky day!!!

 

Over revved one day and almost lost a locking nut myself.

 

That is some heynoos valve wear, are your running synthetic?

 

On that motor I only ran Mobil 1 and the picture looks bad but there was no abnormal valve wear. Jsut about every H and B series cam(s) I've seen look similar. When you can feel grooves or anytime of surface imperfections is when you need to worry. The picture was just to show how close I was to having the lock nut spin right off and end up someplace catastrophic.

 

It almost looks like there is a heat bluing of the surface.

 

lucky you