5-cylinder F-2803-DI valve adjustment

[geneP]

The tractor came to me with 2500 hrs on it. I don't know its history and thought about adjusting the valves. Is this a straightforward task, or are special tools involved? Can anyone give me the settings? Comments appreciated.

That simple valve cover gasket is over $25 so I don't want to take it off just to look.

 

[wmonroe]

I think my 5240 has the valve adjustment measurements on a tag on the valve cover. Do you have a service manual?

 

[geneP]

I don't have a service manual yet. I just changed the engine oil but didn't notice the valve specs on the cover. I'll take a closer look.

 

[geneP]

No, there are no markings on the valve cover. If they were on a sticker, maybe it has come off but I don't see any glue residue or other evidence that there has been one there.

 

[rbargeron]

Here's a page from the WSM. Rather than taking off the loader frame to look in the window for flywheel position, it's easier to just start wherever the engine is - wiggling the rockers to see which ones are loose. Adjust the ones that are too loose, roll the engine, adjust more loose ones if any until you've visited them all, usually 3 or 4 positions finds 'em all. If any are too tight they need opening up - roll the engine until the lifter is on the base circle of the cam.

If your F2803 is like the 2 I've looked at, the valves may not need attention. I think I've actually changed the gap on 2 valves and they didn't really need it. I've had valve covers off on several Kubotas - the gasket is usually re-usable. I chased a front cover oil leak on one of my my L345s - took off the valve cover twice - cleaned and re used it with no issues. Just sayin'....

 

[geneP]

Thanks Dick. It looks simple enough. The weather is beautiful here today. I'm going out to drop the loader for the first time and see about the valves.

I hope you are enjoying your newly found freedom

 

[wmonroe]

Thanks Dick. It looks simple enough. The weather is beautiful here today. I'm going out to drop the loader for the first time and see about the valves. I hope you are enjoying your newly found freedom

Hopefully the valve adjustment went well for you. I found a picture of the tag on my valve cover, I could see how this would come off over time though with the heat and dirt.

 

[geneP]

That sticker looks pretty durable and your tractor is at least 10 years younger than mine, maybe they started putting them on later on after mine was built.

The previous owner had installed an overhead canopy with limb risers and support legs down to the loader bolster. The right leg wouldn't let the loader control valve pass so I had to stop and take it off. I really didn't need it on there anyway. I'll start on the valves tomorrow after I try to get the loader off again.

 

[rbargeron]

My L5450 was sold new in 1998, one of the last ones - no valve adjustment sticker. I'm admittedly too far away to see, but are you sure you need to remove anything but the hood and maybe side panels? With the loader raised, engine access is decent. Thanks for the freedom comment. Dick B

 

[geneP]

I have them adjusted. I have .006, .008, and .010 feeler gauges. I used the .008 as preferred. One rocker wouldn't accept the .008 but would accept the .006. It would probably be OK, but I adjusted it to accept the .008. I checked them all with the .010 and it wouldn't go on any of them, so I'm confident that they are all in the .008-.009 range.