How to adjust your valves on a Classic AirCooled Volkswagen Beetle engine. Set by step

Here is a easy way to adjust your Volkswagen valves on a type 1 engine. I hope this helps you and explains the procedure and eliminates any confusion.

[@Volkswagenplanet]

Your getting the hang of the end scenes. Our jawbreaker has come a long way. Congrats. Looks like your getting the hang of this.

[@TheJorgSacul]

Something you might want to add-- before cranking it counterclockwise, make SURE you're in neutral. Otherwise, you may very quickly loosen your alt/gen pulley and have to realign and tighten it back up... ask me how I know 😄😄😄😄 Bright side to my dumb error, I discovered that my seemingly good belt was wanting to crumble apart in a couple spots. Great video, nice and clear throughout.

[@VWJawbreaker]

That’s a great point.

[@Weisserdau]

Good tip to know. My Ghia will definitely appreciate it!

[@shaygrossen4728]

I'm trying my best to learn some basic care for my 69 beetle and this was very helpful! Thanks! ✌️

[@VWJawbreaker]

Glad you found the video helpful!

[@Drawson663]

This videos was able to help me out a lot, especially the spinning backwards trick, very smart

[@VWJawbreaker]

I’m glad the video helped you out! 🤙

[@CTmoog]

Great video man! Keep it up brother!

[@backyardkombi5466]

Nice walk through Gary.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks buddy. Very old video that I’m sure I could do a better job on now.

[@eastg6029]

You actually explained every thing pretty good thanks bro now I could do my sandrail

[@VWJawbreaker]

Glad the video helped you along!

[@rainohhell7365]

Brilliant video !! Thank you for the Wrench / Screw Driver trick 🤟🏻

[@VWJawbreaker]

Glad you found the video helpful!

[@JRVWPrints]

Thanks for the Video; it's straight to the point!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks for watching 🤙

[@Volkswagenplanet]

Made it look to easy. Great video

[@VWJawbreaker]

Volkswagenplanet thank you sir.

[@raymondchan9802]

Thank you for sharing. Your video is awesome!

[@VWJawbreaker]

I’m glad you found the video helpful, that’s the entire purpose of the videos! Happy holidays.

[@ernestopineda4996]

Simple video and well explained thanks alot

[@VWJawbreaker]

Glad you found the video helpful 🤙

[@99unlv11]

Nice job. Well done

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you much.

[@rainohhell7365]

Nice work !!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks for the visit 🤙

[@Volkswagenplanet]

Remind me what I seen during you video when it was live. You may find it interesting.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Volkswagenplanet my curiosity is peaked.... please share!

[@GoodOldMike]

This was a very well done video. Sort of bummed because I'm about to do one. Oh well, you nailed it! I learned a couple of tricks from you which is sweeeeeeet!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Good Old Mike don’t be bummed man, do your video, do your thing! I did it to help someone out, it was easier to make the video, post it and send him the link vs trying to explain over the phone.

[@GoodOldMike]

@@VWJawbreaker my video is going to point to your video for the how to aspect. Win win LOL. I could not do it better. You really did a great job on it.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Good Old Mike thanks, that means a lot! I honestly didn’t mean to step on your toes... like I said you should do it anyway, you have a great way of making things interesting. At the least you should record it and then see how it comes out.... I’m sure you would surprise yourself!

[@stephanlangston4942]

Great video!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@marcovarela1776]

Great video

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you, I appreciate that.

[@eduardorodriguez3262]

Is nice to study up (me) before going under the Super and Ghia Thanks Gary👍🇩🇪

[@VWJawbreaker]

Happy to help brother!

[@MrTodo6969]

Thanks man great video

[@VWJawbreaker]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@frisoderidder6957]

great video.You could also start on 4 then rotate clockwise to 3, then rotate to 2 then to 1.This will let you do one side at a time also.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you and you are correct. Do what works best for you. Thanks for being here 👍

[@Desertphile]

Thank you. Note that distributors some times have notches that are not TDC, and are 30 degrees Before Top Dead Center.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Desertphile there are definitely different distributors out there.

[@vintagespeedvw7864]

Good video!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Vintage Speed VW thanks. Had someone ask me to walk them through it, figured it would make a good video since I had it recorded already lol

[@TheodoreMauros]

thank you very much for this!!

[@VWJawbreaker]

I’m glad you found the video helpful 🤙

[@TheodoreMauros]

@@VWJawbreaker just got my grandfather's old 72 beetle and trying to take care of everything because it was neglected a bit, just finished with sparkplugs and electrical staff and now getting into the valves, thanks God I don't have to drop the motor to do it

[@VWJawbreaker]

@@TheodoreMauros best of luck with his beetle. Most importantly, enjoy it!

[@aaronorens9173]

Great video. I always have an issue with the feel of the drag and how much drag there should be in the feeler gauge.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you sir. As long as you make them all drag consistently you should be fine. Not too tight but not lose where it’ll just fall out.

[@mikeporter7356]

Well done sir

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you, that’s an old video 😂

[@bigwadventures7061]

Nice Job, you do it like ME. I appreciate you making this video. Now I won’t have to. HeHe. Hope you get to feeling better. Take care and we’ll see you soon. BigW:-)

[@VWJawbreaker]

Big W Adventures always appreciate the kind words, encouragement and support. I’m in the design phase of some decals, I’ll let you know as soon as they are done.

[@busman5429]

Been lucky with the wave washers not breaking but when they do your waving someone down to help. When I double checked my rocker setting on the motor I have on the run test staand, I was surprised at how loose they were, reach that age were I thought I adjusted them??? Gathering parts for another motor this one is for the bus the one on the run test stand for my 63 beetle which I will get out of storeage if the snow ever melts..man we have 6 to 8 inches of more snow coming next week.

[@johnkelley7543]

Thanks for the refresher. I'm about to do this on my '73 Porsche 914 and needed a little confidence booster.

[@VWJawbreaker]

I’m glad the video was able to help you out. Have fun with your 914!

[@djjonnybong]

Thanks muchly

[@VWJawbreaker]

Not a problem!

[@jasonmerideth1512]

Thanks

[@VWJawbreaker]

Hope it helped you out some.

[@nikolausfinn1165]

Something I did notice him mention is clearance for Molly push rods it’s .002 for normal steel/stock pushrods ots .006

[@VWJawbreaker]

Normal push rods are aluminum and .006” Molly push rods are zero lash.

[@nikolausfinn1165]

@@VWJawbreaker at zero lash you can’t properly sync the carbs I just spent 3 weeks trying to figure out and stock pushrods are steel

[@VWJawbreaker]

@@nikolausfinn1165 Stock push rods are not steel, they are aluminum. At zero lash for chromoly push rods, you should still be able to spin the push rod with your fingers. This is an AirCooled VW, not a small block Chevy.

[@dmmnlf1]

That helped alot. I have gas coming out my exhaust what would cause that

[@VWJawbreaker]

I’m glad the video helped you out! If you’re sure it’s gas coming out of the exhaust in liquid form, do not run the engine. You probably have gas in your oil also and will need to change the oil if it’s contaminated with gas. If gas is leaking from the exhaust, you have a carburetor issue.

[@itvdude]

Great Video! I just relocated my fuel filter to the same location as you have. Q? The dipstick has some sort of plastic cap and a wire. What is that?

[@VWJawbreaker]

Glad the video was helpful. It’s a save my bug dip stick, worth looking it up.

[@Mr951rude]

Is it always a .006 feeler gauge? Does that gauge vary depending if it’s a 1600 or a 1776.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Doesn’t matter what size the engine is, it matters if you have aluminum or chromoly push rods. Aluminum is .006” Chromoly is zero lash.

[@vwbtl9]

is it bad it the pulley is few like 3,4 degrees off when adjusting valves or how exactly do you know that

[@VWJawbreaker]

As long as when you rock the pulley back and forth, both rockers that you want to adjust do not move, you’ll be ok.

[@vwbtl9]

do i need to drain oil before doing adjusting valves?

[@VWJawbreaker]

Not at all. There will be a little oil on the valve covers but you’ll be fine.

[@mikabottorff]

Awsome video! Thanks for the help. I have a question.. my 68 vw starts up every morning I just pump the gas one time and boom fires right up! But after I drive about 20min and the motor is warmed up. Its hard as hell to get it started again sometimes I even have to jump start it because I run the battery dead trying to start it. Could adjusting the valves help or stop this? Or what could it be? I have checked the fuel pump and it seems fine. I'm lost!!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Try this.... carbureted engines are different than the newer fuel injected cars. After you drive somewhere, if the engine doesn’t fire off within a second or two, hold the gas pedal to the floor and crank. See if doing that will help your problem.

[@mikabottorff]

@@VWJawbreaker i have tried that also but still just cranks and won't start.

[@VWJawbreaker]

@@mikabottorff if you don’t have any issues with it’s running and stays running well, I would recommend checking your fuel pressure with an inline gauge and also tour float height. Sounds like it’s flooding out when hot.

[@mikabottorff]

@@VWJawbreaker thank you will try that. Thank you for your fast reply and your help.

[@michaelmounts1269]

Good video! Just curious--where is your coil??

[@VWJawbreaker]

That’s such an old video I really don’t remember. I had it relocated somewhere.

[@DavidKeyser-iq4fe]

Hi my name is David ibusy build a beach bug ,I want to put 2x32webber down draft's any advice on jets its1600twin port ,and want to replace valves springs I appreciate your advice I am in South Africa , blessings

[@VWJawbreaker]

Hey David! Not sure off hand what keys you’d need. Check out aircooled.net as he has some good articles that might point you on the right direction.

[@MrTodo6969]

Do you need to push on the bottom of the rocker arm when using the feeler gauge? If you’re putting pressure on the top while tightening it will always be off spec

[@VWJawbreaker]

You don’t need to push on the bottom, I usually do to ensure I’m getting a proper reading. Especially with ratio rockers.

[@MrTodo6969]

@@VWJawbreaker ok but u see what I’m saying, do you gauge it with the rocker back or full forward? If your put pressure on it when you tighten and then move the rocker back the gap has expanded

[@VWJawbreaker]

It doesn’t matter. The rocker is on the push rod and your feeler gauge is between the other end of the rocker and the tip of the valve. You applying a little pressure on either end will jt change the value when the feeler gauge is in place. You might get a “false” reading if you’re pushing hard on the adjuster side but regardless, after you tighten down the jam nut, you should be checking it again.

[@MrTodo6969]

@@VWJawbreaker oh I see what you’re saying, ok thanks appreciate this

[@VWJawbreaker]

@@MrTodo6969 anytime!

[@davidgallagher9962]

How many miles do you have to adjust your vows

[@VWJawbreaker]

Approx every 3k miles.

[@davidgallagher9962]

Where do you get a feeler gauge

[@VWJawbreaker]

Amazon, local auto parts stores, eBay.

[@andycampos9223]

What if I’m on cylinder 2 and the arms on cylinder 1 are still lose but I just tighten them?

[@VWJawbreaker]

Then you’re not in #2 or you have other issues.

[@andycampos9223]

@@VWJawbreaker alright thanks

[@andycampos9223]

@@VWJawbreaker just sent a video on insta to you

[@VWJawbreaker]

@andycampos9223 I’ll check it out.

[@erwinjansen2885]

0,15 mm?

[@VWJawbreaker]

Yes, 0.15mm = almost .006”.

[@juneheaney]

My valve nuts are jammed on too tight , I can't get them loosened. Help? Can I heat them to loosen them?

[@VWJawbreaker]

That’s a great question.... I haven’t ran into that yet. Did you try a socket with ratchet on it?

[@juneheaney]

@@VWJawbreaker yes , already tried that 😂

[@VWJawbreaker]

@@juneheaney well then 😳 Guess you could try some heat.... just be careful not to get them too hot, you could damage the rockers, wavy washers, head, valves, etc.

[@juneheaney]

@@VWJawbreaker do you think I should try some more WD40 first ?

[@VWJawbreaker]

@@juneheaney try that, BP blaster, try anything

[@edwinaguilar4746]

You did not state the rocker to valve clearnce smarty pants...so many of you "know it all "giving unclear info ...THE BLINS LEADING THE BLIND !!!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Funny, I went over the tools needed and even stated you needed a .006” feeler gauge at 2:20 Never said I was a know it all but I at least pay attention.

[@edwinaguilar4746]

I take It all back !! My bad !!

[@VWJawbreaker]

@@edwinaguilar4746 all good 🤙

[@tr199yninja]

6¹1¹¹¹1¹¹111¹​@@edwinaguilar4746

[@thomastipton8120]

Great video

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you, glad you found it useful.

[@corycarpenter977]

Great video

[@VWJawbreaker]

Glad you enjoyed it.