manually rotating cam shaft to check valve clearance (1 Viewer)

[ninedude]

I am in pretty deep to a job that requires moving the cams from my 2006 LC. So far, at the disassembly stage, I've enjoyed learning. I'll feel much better when things are back together.

One thing, though, is that I realized that it would be a good time to at least verify that my valves are spaced correctly.

I have already disassembled the timing belt, all the pulleys. I put the crankshaft at TDC according to the dot at high noon, as per the FSMs instruction for cam shaft removal, which I have yet to do.

In all the guides, I see that the valve clearance is checked when the timing belt is together. Is it still possible to check, and is there any potential danger in rotating the camshaft manually?

I believe that by orienting the crankshaft TDC, the pistons are out of the way, but I'm pretty new to all of this and figure it would probably be best to ask before I do anything that can't easily be undone.

Thanks!

 

[RapidRob]

Be careful, at TDC at least #1 piston is at it's highest point. (Hence the term Top Dead Center!). The reason you should adjust valves with the
timing belt installed is so you can move the pistons out of the way as you adjust various valves. The factory manual or any basic service manual can tell you the procedure. Also, with the cams free to rotate the valve springs will try to move the cam right when you don't want it to.
Just don't try to do it that way.

 

[ninedude]

Be careful, at TDC at least #1 piston is at it's highest point. (Hence the term Top Dead Center!). The reason you should adjust valves with the
timing belt installed is so you can move the pistons out of the way as you adjust various valves. The factory manual or any basic service manual can tell you the procedure. Also, with the cams free to rotate the valve springs will try to move the cam right when you don't want it to.
Just don't try to do it that way.

Thanks, yeah good to know, looks like the ship has sailed on my valve clearance job. Which is okay, because I have uncovered a monster of a different kind, but I'll cover that in the build thread, thank you