Spent all last weekend trying to do the tappets or trying to find out where I went wrong. Have done this job quite a few times on the beetle and the camper over the years no matter what I do can not get a gap on 1 valve on number 4 . Changed rocker arm for a old one and put another push rod still the same result. Done the beetle last month no problem. Got no more had to pull out. Just going out to have another go any ideas cheers
If you take the rocker arm off and rest a straight edge across the valve stems, does the valve stem stand up relative to the other three? That would be a sinking valve seat or a stretching valve. Are you sure the pushrod is really going home properly ? twiddle it a bit. If the camshaft is worn on one lobe then this might also cause the problem but the valve on the opposite side of the engine should also be a bit different as well. (and the oil could well be shiny and glittery) Or the camshaft follower being worn might make it harder to setup. These two are engine out and strip down. Have you managed to flip over the rocker arm shaft (some aftermarket rocker shafts have different diameters holes either side of the shaft for the stud so they only go on one way up, meaning you need the blocks the right way up and the shaft the right way up) and it is caught on the shoulder of the stud at one end and not the other? (done that .. ) Shim missing one end of rocker arm - some engines may be built with shims under the rocker arm support blocks and if one of these is missing it would cause this pain.
Not the cam or follower, that would cause you to need to screw the adjuster further in. As Mike suggests, I'd take the rockers off and check the valve stem level with a straightedge.
Thanks for taking replies. Put a steel rule across both valves no gap it's virtually a brand new engine only done about 800 miles and then stripped down and rebuilt ( long story). Tomorrow will take off new rocker arms and try old ones. Hoping to get it mot next week and go camping week after had nothing but agro for about 3 years ,am getting a bit *******ed off spent a *****ing fortune on the bus if it isn't one thing it's something else. Saw a nice Humber hawk for sale very tempting
