Valve lash question

Was adjusting valve lash on my '97 Odysey and did a double-take when I
realized that the order was 1, 3, 4, 2. It made me wonder if I did the
order correctly on my daughter's '93 Accord a few weeks ago. I recall I had
to start over part way through the adjustment for some reason, but it was a
few weeks ago and I forget whether it was because I realized I was trying to
do the order incorrectly.

The engine runs smoothly. No valve clatter. Would the engine run poorly or
sound odd in some way that would tell me whether I inadvertantly adjusted
the valves based on 1,2,3,4?

Yes, worst case I can pull the cover again and check....
thx,
KWW

 

As long as the appropriate cam lobe was in the right position when you did
each valve, it doesn't matter.

 

I shouldnt matter, the piston has to be at TDC anyways to make the
adjustment. 1,3,4,2 is the firing order, it makes sense to do it this
way because it's less work spent turning the crankshaft, but it's not
absolutley necessary.

 

"... less work spent turning the crankshaft..." well, if the crank was just
turned 180 degrees each time (camshaft 90 degrees) but the order of
adjustment was 1, 2, 3, 4, then it would not be correct by the cam lobes...
but wouldn't it run oddly? I may have started over and fixed it... as I
said, I recall doing something over again, but I just cannot recall if it
was the valve adjustments.

 

Right, I don't think this will do. Doing #1 with its piston
at TDC, end of compression, then rotating 180 degrees, then
doing #2 would put #2 piston at its top, but not for the
compression stroke (where exhaust and intake valves should
be shut). Instead, it would be at the end of its exhaust
stroke (exhaust valves just about shut, intake valves
starting to open).

I would think the lash is off and quite possibly by too
much. If its on the low side, you risk IIRC "burning" a
valve, and you won't necessarily hear that damage occuring
until its too late. If the lash is on the high side
(clearance too large), you might hear tapping when the
engine is cold.

Unless someone injects some more wisdom, I'd get under that
valve cover and re-do the job.

 

All you need to do is make sure all the lobes you want to adjust are
pointing up to the sky. Adjust that cylinder's set, then turn the crank
again until the next set are pointing skywards. Easy. It's all I do on my
DOHC engine.