Valve clearance adjustment 200tdi yet again..

Hi all,
I changed my cyclinder head month ago odd and since then it sounds really "tappy"
When I adjusted the tappets I really had no idea what I was doing and couldn't see what valves where fully open and shut etc as i had to lye under it and turn the crack and then jump back up and see what valve had moved,

I've now removed the fan cowl so can turn the crank by standing by the engine and can see what's moving.
I've watched the videos and read the books but I'm still not convinced I've got it set right and doing it properly, I know it should be 0.20mm (200tdi)

Bit of a cheek is there anyone near me (Alton hants) that has a good idea how to set it up for a beer or can help do odd landy jobs if need a hand? I've got the few tools needed so just somebody with some simple knowledge how to do it hahaa
Id like to just get it done now and know it's set up to try reduce the "tappyness" of it lol.
Thanks
Max

I have always set mine at 10thou inlet and 12thou exhaust.

Use the 'rule of 9' so when no8 is fully down (open) adjust no1, and then it is 7&2, 6&3 5&4 4&5, 3&6, 2&7 and 1&8.

Ahh right, think I'll stick to just doing what it says in the book at 0.20. Yep will have a crack at some point and try not get too confooosed hahaa

MaxyMan said:

Ahh right, think I'll stick to just doing what it says in the book at 0.20. Yep will have a crack at some point and try not get too confooosed hahaa

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Rule of 9 is fairly fool proof

It honestly is a doddle and for a simple job can make some difference. Just make sure to check and re-check the clearances (0.20mm like you said) when you're tightening them up and all should be well. If it helps just do what I did and turn the engine over by hand a number of times while watching the rockers, just to get a feel for what moves when and what the highest position looks like

Cheers for the words of wisdom.
I did check it a few times after doing it last and just had that feeling it's not right for some reason!

MaxyMan said:

Cheers for the words of wisdom.
I did check it a few times after doing it last and just had that feeling it's not right for some reason!

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The real trick is adjusting so the feeler gauge has the right amount of resistance....so it is lightly held but will still slip. That said a tdi is pretty tolerant.

Have you looked at any guides on youtube?

Yes been watching the trailer fitters videos there real helpful.
I'll sort it out tomorow I think and re check it till I'm happy

Just did them in about 10 mins. God it's soo easy without having to get under the vehicle each time to turn the crank, from up top can see everything moving from open to shut and simple to see what to do

Other way to do it would have been to jack a front wheel up, put it in gear and then turn the wheel. Will turn the engine over and you can keep and eye on the engine.

That's just asking to kill ya self. After having a tractor start up in gear Infront of me luckily it was in reverse and hit barn otherwise I would of been pinned up against a wall, known a man who used work with died by a truck starting up in gear and crushed him.

It's just somthing once you've seen you'll understand!!

MaxyMan said:

Just did them in about 10 mins. God it's soo easy without having to get under the vehicle each time to turn the crank, from up top can see everything moving from open to shut and simple to see what to do

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even easier if you remove the heater plugs so theres no compression when turning engine over.
plus you can stick the plugs on a set of jump leads to check there actually working
surprising how many dont work, and no one knows about it

MaxyMan said:

That's just asking to kill ya self. After having a tractor start up in gear Infront of me luckily it was in reverse and hit barn otherwise I would of been pinned up against a wall, known a man who used work with died by a truck starting up in gear and crushed him.

It's just somthing once you've seen you'll understand!!

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I'm intrigued, I assume you were referring to my post. How is it in any way dangerous?

Well your turning the engine over with it in gear, If the engine started up by you turning it over it would flatten you? How's it not dangerous lol

Bloody hell, you must be Schwarzenegger in disguise if you reckon you are going to turn the wheel hard enough to start a TDi! You're only gonna be turning the engine slowly to get the rockers at the right point.

Take the stop solenoid wire off if you were that worried about it, I would have hoped you weren't going it with the ignition on anyway

It might not be that difficult bearing in mind the weight of the wheel. Mind how they used to start old cars with the crank handle in front

Your choice mate, 100s of people get killed every year by doing stunts like that. It really doesn't take a lot to start these little diesel lumps..
Just trying to give you some advice as I've done it my self

I don't see how you are any more likely to start a TDi with the ignition off by turning the wheel, than you are by turning a ratchet on the crank bolt. Or by looking at it wrong...


Furthermore, doesn't even matter if you do start it by some miracle. It's just going to spin the wheel in the air.

Mate was loading an old international tractor onto an ifor trailer left his disco in gear but was in low range so even easyer to start as handbrake wasn't that great, drove it on a little quickly and had use the breakes to stop on the trailer, the weight shifting forward fired up his disco 200 that was facing downhill and stopped by a wall. Nobody hurt luckily.

Not trying to argue about it fella it's just somthing not to do lol. I'm running LSD diffs also so with one wheel in the air it would have gripped on floor anyway.


It doesn't matter turning it by crank if it's outa gear as it won't move even if it does fire lol, wich is very unlikey but it does happen lol

jackmac said:

I don't see how you are any more likely to start a TDi with the ignition off by turning the wheel, than you are by turning a ratchet on the crank bolt. Or by looking at it wrong...


Furthermore, doesn't even matter if you do start it by some miracle. It's just going to spin the wheel in the air.

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A 4 wheel drive vehicle with the engine running will just spin one wheel in the air?! :what: really? If the wheels going to spin then its in gear, and it won't just be one wheels that's spinning, hence maxymans warning. I can see where he's coming from but you wouldn't have it in gear to adjust the clearances otherwise you'll have a damn hard time of turning it over by hand using a ratchet