Valve adjustment - rounded nut

Lock · Post by **Lock** » Tue Feb 02, 2016 2:26 am

Has anyone come across rounded valve nuts on the rocker arm, and how have you fixed it? I guess the only thing I can do is use a bolt extractor but the space is tiny and I don't want to drop metal pieces into the head. I searched the archives and one guy broke his engine by cracking the rocker arms. I don't want to do that.

Cyl #4 intake valve nut is completed rounded, its clearance also way out and it clacks loudly, so this must have been damaged a while ago and kept getting skipped.

I adjusted the valves on all others and it's much smoother now and quieter. But there's a slight shake and you can easily hear that one rocker arm banging away. Wondering what I can do to fix it without taking the head off, or if I should just leave it alone because it's working.

A pic with the rocker cover off

<img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1676/247 ... e48c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt=".">

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Wed Feb 03, 2016 12:51 pm

If it's just the nut that's rounded, take a vice grips to it. It's only a 6MM bolt, shouldn't take much to get it off. And being where it is there shouldn't be any rust in
there.

GripGreg · Post by **GripGreg** » Thu Feb 04, 2016 3:18 am

I was thinking the very same thing. The vise grips may have to be a smaller size but, it's worth a try.
Tell the store what you want to do & they should help you.

RonDwyer · Post by **RonDwyer** » Thu Feb 04, 2016 5:11 pm

We all call on Mr. GoodPliers on occasion...Go see Marshall for the replacement nut if you can't get one at a hardware store.

Lock · Post by **Lock** » Fri Feb 05, 2016 2:11 am

I did try the vicegrips I have, but they were too big and the space (right underneath the throttle) is very limited. Just ended up making it worse so I stopped, plus everything covered in oil doesn't help.
I have some OEM BMW nuts and washers on the way, and I'll look at buying smaller vicegrips first, or whatever else they can recommend.

CabbageFumes · Post by **CabbageFumes** » Mon Feb 08, 2016 10:08 am

There are horrible people in this world, clearly. Rounding a rocker nut? Who is so bad at what they do that they accomplish that? People can be frustratingly stupid sometimes.

RandyM · Post by **RandyM** » Mon Feb 08, 2016 11:12 am

Maybe it was done by one of those American tools that aren't a proper fit. But let's not talk about the election cycle.

CabbageFumes · Post by **CabbageFumes** » Mon Feb 08, 2016 11:42 am

Never let a politician under your hood. First rule of fight club.