Valve Adjustment DOHC Subaru Without Removing Cams Bucket & Shim - AlanFixedIt

Valve Adjustment on Ej25D with and without cam removal. This will show the process of measuring and adjusting valve clearance on any Subaru DOHC Engine with the Bucket and Shim style.
-AlanFixedIt

[@stuartsmith5146]

Right on, dude! I was looking at... well you know. Looks like a game of “Operation”.

[@subaruej22d84]

I'm experienced with these engines and this technique was tough to do (but got it done with a friend). Much respect for you to invent this. Way easier with the engine out of the car, though. Lol.

[@AlanFixedIt]

Yes, not super easy, but handy for when you don't want to tear it down.

[@jimmynguyen7704]

You're telling me you did this with it still in the bay?!?!

[@AlanFixedIt]

@@jimmynguyen7704 I have many times.

[@subaruej22d84]

3x here.

[@andrewainsley4383]

Good video that, probably one of the best most informative I've seen

[@jamesnovcaski3395]

Yea doin hg and timing kit on a 4cam tomorrow, good advice, thanks!

[@ShootsStudio]

Excellent video. I'm in the process of replacing the head gaskets on my 1998 Forester with DOHC and buckets with shims. The machine shop touched up the valves and seats, so obviously I need to re-do the valve lashes. TWO THINGS: First, since the shims are so hard to find these days, and i want to have them as close to ideal thickness as possible, I'm wondering if I can have the machine shop cut down my existing shims (they are almost all too thick now) - I would have him machine the side that sits in the bucket, NOT the side that is in contact with the cam lobe; (2) ONE THING I HAVE FOUND - Do NOT trust your feeler gauges! I have three sets, which I checked with a micrometer before using. One set "Hotop" brand from Ch__a, had one gauge that was off by a full mil (0.001") from what it was marked - marked 11 mils, measured 12 mils, and another that was off by 0.4 mils! So I ended up using the measured thicknesses, and then sometimes combining two gauges in order to get an accurate measurement. Thanks again!

[@AlanFixedIt]

I have successfully used a belt sander to shave down the shims when the proper one couldn't be found, however they are made of a super hard metal and it took quite a while. I'd assume the machine shop could do the same

[@nealio990]

This was helpful for measuring valve lash in car. Unfortunately mine were totally messed up and I have solid lifters so I guess it's time for a timing belt job as well.

[@johnjohnson9827]

I was pumping the valve and jam the shim up inside the bucket it's the only way to get that shim out now to take the cam out?

[@nealio990]

@@johnjohnson9827 if by "shim" you mean the feeler gauge, you should be able to insert it without using force. If you have to use force, it is obviously not the right size feeler gauge. Also helps to make sure there is a film of oil to ensure it goes in smoothly. If you jammed it in there you may have to remove the cam to get it back out.

[@DanTheManIOM]

Thanks for posting this. got a 99 dohc ej25 and it has the buckets...I tried to keep them straight, but it was months and months ago and I'm not sure. Engine did start, but intake is not all hooked up and it dies out, like a vacuum leak, sound like I need to pull the covers and check, just to be sure....damn....

[@tetrabromobisphenol]

If you have the time, get them laser marked after removal. Never again will you lose track.

[@DanTheManIOM]

@@tetrabromobisphenol well, I did something to that engine and it only lasted 252 miles, rod bearings toast and oil looked like 252K miles, so I think I overheated it, several times, trying to get the air out...and now we have a SOHC in there, that was running and I did not TOUCH

[@defthopeswell]

Thank you!

[@lucasbelo7107]

How to synchronize this motor when installing timing belt?

[@mitchellsavage313]

Damn these motors

[@bentonrodeheaver2596]

Wish this could work on a 2.5 nissan. The buckets are too tall. What happened to the hydraulic lifters?

[@Goofygoober99-g5x]

That is exactly what i did!!!! I kicked my lifters. Now im in process of figuring it all out. Passenger side intake i have 6 8 10 10 exhaust i have 12 12 13 11 driverside intake 9 8 6 6 exhaust 15 15 12 12. I really have to figure what ones go where. Thinking of swapping the 15s for the 6s

[@amit604]

Can you do with 2009 lancer 2L. Makes ticking noise

[@Marc-gm5cm]

very informative. I want to upgrade my 03 forester sg turbo with bigger cams do you think I could remove the cams without pulling the engine out? also I'd like to know if its gonna be same way to adjust the valves with more aggressive cams?

[@DanTheManIOM]

bit late, but my crazy neighbor did head gaskets with engine in the car, both SOHC and DOHC...so if you can take the heads on in car, you can change cams...I'm sure it is more painful than it even sounds !!

[@edgeoftheworld772]

Any tips for compressing the buckets at the back of the engine? I can get the front 3 out easily like you demonstrate. I can't get the furthest back one, my screw driver just slips off the cam-end when I twist. Did you use a different tool for these four?

[@AlanFixedIt]

Edge of the World I use the same screw driver on all, may have to get it from under or a longer screw driver to snag them

[@mexicant72]

Looks alot like the engine in my 1987 CTR Yellowbird

[@EdnilzoSilva-nm1ys]

Hi Friend! My car is a Subaru Forester EJ20 2010 what engine, valve calibration? Thank you.

[@richardaguilar8582]

Wow, thanks for showing me how to do this inside the car by doing it outside the car.

[@AlanFixedIt]

Richard Aguilar you’re welcome! I too am glad you could clearly see the valve train because it wasn’t in the car 2 inches from the body. Thanks for watching!

[@SubieDougz]

😂😂

[@zoomthumpthump]

Nice to see the DOHC featured and good video. My USDM 05 OBXT MT is .14-.24 mm Int, .30-.40 mm Exh. according to the book and the underhood sticker. It has the full buckets. After 170k miles, I'm doing the head gaskets. The Int buckets were all in spec, but the exh were all out of spec - too little clearance. Since the shim buckets only lost a ten thousandth, is this the valve seats wearing down?

[@AlanFixedIt]

It's very common for the exhaust clearances to tighten up, and the Ej255 is notorious for burning valves due to the clearances being too tight. They tighten over time as the valve stem itself stretches from heat and spring pressure. Valve seats can also factor in. You will need to measure and then order replacement buckets from Subaru that are the size you need. You may be able to find a machine shop or Subaru specialty shop that has a bucket grinding tool (goodson makes one), this is the method I use for solid buckets, but most people don't have access to one.

[@zoomthumpthump]

@@AlanFixedIt That's really interesting that they can be ground to size. I would think that there is the possibility of grinding through the surface hardening, but maybe the metal is already thin enough that they are hardened all the way through.

[@AlanFixedIt]

@@zoomthumpthump I should have specified, bucket grinding actually grinds the bottom side (inside) of the bucket. There's a protrusion that the valve contacts, this protrusion can be ground down

[@MarcGyverIt]

@@AlanFixedIt This might be the easiest thing for me to do, and the cheapest I need to get the tool to do that.

[@Munibahmad241]

hey just wondering i’ve a 06 impreza with a EJ20 the lifters/tappets need adjusting, would they be done the same way?? @alanfixedit

[@AlanFixedIt]

Munib Ahmad USDM, JDM or Europe? Where are you located? Is it single or dual overhead Cam? In the US market the 2006 Impreza is Ej25.

[@johnny0454]

I know it's an older video, but does it matter how the bucket is oriented when you're done? like if the notches need to be straight up or...?

[@AlanFixedIt]

It doesn't matter. In fact they will rotate around slightly with the engine running.

[@johnny0454]

@@AlanFixedIt Fantastic, thats what I thought, but wanted to be sure. Thank you!

[@jimrossabrena7955]

I started watching this video thinking it would be hard to do a valve adjustment on a DOHC motor. It's the same style as a 1st gen Tacoma. 2rz/3rz and 5vz motors

[@sm-gq8si]

Would this apply to the H6? Horizontal 6 cylinder Subaru's.

[@AlanFixedIt]

I don't believe so, I believe they are screw type of I remember correctly

[@patrickkillilea5225]

LOL. Did the turbo cars spit the shims out? OUCH! Being a motorcycle person, I know that, most Japanese motorcycle, OHC engines, use shim under bucket now a days. Of course, some of the Hondas, they forgot the buckets on the exhaust valves.... but that's a nice little trick. I gotta do some work a a 2005 Forester I own. It needs more than a valve adjustment, if I take the motor out.. 150K it's time.

[@dennistaylor7830]

An SH Forester XT requires the entire bucket to be changed out, right?

[@AlanFixedIt]

Dennis Taylor correct

[@dennistaylor7830]

@@AlanFixedIt thank you for answering, but booo! $$$$

[@janisvinters8797]

Only on the case with Solid buckets - you have to remove cam shaft to change the buckets and adjust valve clearence... 😂

[@Frankthetank0310]

Wait WHAT?!?!

[@KyleDisney]

i cant find my coilover pkug

[@AlanFixedIt]

Unwind can you expound? I’m not sure what you mean

[@DNL82]

Intreasting 🤔 video 📹

[@mcwolfpne]

This method will get the valve Carter to fall off, and that will end the joy

[@gc8rosh]

I tried the screwdriver method but it kept slipping off the bucket lip or off the cam. Might be because im trying to extract the Right Cyl #4 shim and theres less cam to leverage with. Looking like I'll have to put the valve covers back on and drive it as-is. Life is a bitch

[@tannyshim3074]

Shims is much better than bucket. Bucket does require lots of work.

[@beckers1330]

Sorry m8, but shim under or solid bucket is better. At high rpm the shim over can get spat out of the bucket.

[@subaruej22d84]

@@beckers1330 - Anything under 7500rpm isn't a problem and remains no worry so long as launch control isn't used.

[@NFSINSANE]

God these cars are trash

[@subaruej22d84]

Not really. Just have to care for them like any other machine.