Valve adjustment

[EdHouston]

OK guys I have a question that I just know you all can answer!

How often should we be checking valve clearance on the Westerbeke W40 and or the Perk 4-108?

I think I want to check mine I have owned the boat now coming up three years and never done it I also have a suspicion based on cold starting white smoke that my valves may need adjusting anyone done it? How easy hard is it to do? What are the clearances? Etc etc.

Ed
S/V Moonlight Mile 

[Bay Sailor]

Or...
If I just had new valves, guides, springs, etc would it be unusual to blow a lot of white smoke for a two the three minutes? This occurred while the mechanic was there but all he said was that in 25 hours of use he would adjust valves.

Mark

[RayNWanda]

 Ed, I went to Garner's site and checked the W-40 manual. I think the first adjustment was at 25 hours, every 500hrs after that. They set at .012" intake and exhaust. You need to read up on Westerbeke's procedure. I think it's unnecessarily complicated, but it is their procedure. Garner has the manual on his site, valve adjustment starts on page 60. Make sure you understand the procedure before you start. www.sailingseadragon.com

Mark, how cold was it when it blew the white smoke?

[Bay Sailor]

The air temp wasn't cold at all, probably 70 or so but the engine had been sitting a day or so. All the mechanic said, when I asked about the smoke was "well, it is a 30 yr old engine and it does need a complete rebuild but with a new top end you should get another 1,000 hours or so. To me it seemed like it smoked longer after his work than it did before. I hope this wasn't a thousand dollars down the drain. And thanks, Ray.

[wedelstein]

Alot of white smoke may be a leaking injector. Maybe it is a good time to take out the injectors and get them cleaned and pop tested?