500 Hour Service Question - JD4600

[rmonio]

(also posted in: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/jd-owning-operating/86522-500-hour-service-question-jd4600.html)

I'm getting close to my 500 hour service interval on my 4600. There are two items that require me to take it into the JD Dealer for service - these are:
- Fuel Injector Inspection
- Engine Valve Clearance Adjustment

I can understand the Fuel Injector inspection - but what is the Engine Valve Clearance Adjustment?

Thanks!

-Bob

 

[3RRL]

Valve Lash Adjustment...
Basically, it sets the clearance required between the pushrod and the valve lifter to allow the valves to seat properly in the heads. There is a small amount of clearance specified for each tractor engine in order for it to run efficiently and make the most power.

 

[rmonio]

Thanks for the answer, Rob. Do all tractors require this check and/or is it something to pay attention to every 500 hours (my manual only says at the first 500 hours)?

Thanks again for the help!

-Bob

 

[3RRL]

Yes. They work themselves "out of adjustment" and need periodic attention.
It's normally associated with a good thorogh tune up like in the old days when we had solid lifters in the cars. I remember messing around in the back yard working on my old clunker nearly every weekend! It was the thing to do back then. hahaha.
My tractor is a Chinese Kama (55hp). I recently did my valve lash adjustment and it made quite a difference in engine performance. They are not as rigorously inspected maybe as your machine is, so many Chinese tractor owners do this around 50 hours or sooner just to be sure it is correct. After that, they follow the same maintenance schedule as the others, like yours.
Rob-

 

[rmonio]

Thanks for the further information, Rob. I'll be interested to hear what my dealer has to say when I bring it in for the 500 hour service.

Take care.

-Bob

 

[Doc_Bob]

(also posted in: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/jd-owning-operating/86522-500-hour-service-question-jd4600.html)

I'm getting close to my 500 hour service interval on my 4600. There are two items that require me to take it into the JD Dealer for service - these are:
- Fuel Injector Inspection
- Engine Valve Clearance Adjustment

I can understand the Fuel Injector inspection - but what is the Engine Valve Clearance Adjustment?

Thanks!

-Bob

Questions:

Can the injector be removed and carried to dealer for testing?
Can you do the valve adjustment yourself?
Bob

 

[rmonio]

Good questions - however, I don't think I'd "trust" myself to even want to try these maintenance tasks...

-Bob

 

[3RRL]

Doc,
IMO yes to both. And I would suggest for sure to take the injector pump to a qualified dealer/rebuild shop who can bench test it correctly.

However, on the valve adjustment, it was a lot easier to do than you think. Your manual should have the recommended clearances for intake and exhaust and you can set them yourself. It is a great way to become more familiar with your tractor in a manner that exceeds minor repairs most guys limit themselves to because they don't think they can do it. It also gives you an appreciation and new level of awareness so as to recognize the slight differences in the way the engine runs. It will make you end up taking better care of the tractor because you can now realize when it's running "perfect" or it's not...and you can tell the difference.

All you need is a couple of wrenches, feeler gauges, a new valve cover gasket (that you can make yourself or buy) and the clearances for the valves. Also need to identify which is the exhaust and intake valves AND how to determine top dead center of the cylinder you are adjusting. Usually, the intake has a little less clearance than the exhaust valve, but it will be specified in your manual as well as how to identify the valves and how to find top dead center.

I am by no means a diesel mechanic and am not trying to pass myself off as one. I have worked on my own cars for many years, but the diesel was new to me. If you are interested, I documented my valve lash adjustment here, VALVE LASH ADJUSTMENT and it was a learning curve for me but very doable. Again, be sure to follow the instructions in your manual, but do it and you will enjoy the self satisfaction when done.

Hope that helps,
Rob-

 

[Doc_Bob]

Doc,
IMO yes to both. And I would suggest for sure to take the injector pump to a qualified dealer/rebuild shop who can bench test it correctly.

Take the injector pump off too!!!! As well as the injectors? I did not know that checking the injectors would require the pump being removed along with the injectors.
Bob

 

[schmism]

checking valves?

how is it any diffrent than doing it on a car?

i used to run the valves on my 89 prelude "all the time" when they got noisey

the only thing id add to your writeup was check hot or cold?

in my toyota manual (for my trucks) they list both a hot and a cold setting. in the prelude it was always hot.