experiences with elephant foot valve adjusters??

[karmarepair]

This is interesting and informative. Thanks for that post. The thing we want to zero in on is, exactly what parts should we use and where do we get them?

For aircraft, Hoover recommended using the "Ford" part which is the captive ball with a flat surface in a captive ring. But ours have failed. Where do we get a "better" Ford type?

Hoover says, "Most after-market VW retailers carry the Ford type". But no one is advertising "Ford Type" adjusters for a VW. The search continues! Help us!

The captive ball type is also called the Courier type, as they were used on the Mazda built Ford Courier engines. SCAT sells them. John Connolly at Aircooled.net sells them, and he's been my go-to source for anything NOT aviation specific, but remember I've had TWO engines, neither of which I've flown behind (one was stolen, the other I should be working on right now). http://vwparts.aircooled.net/SCAT-Swive ... single.htm

The Captive Ball is lubricated THROUGH a drilling in the adjuster itself. That's fine IF it gets enough oil. The HVX mods ensure that it does, but a couple of the most effective ones (modifying the tappets, and enlarging the passage behind the cam bearing) can only be done on a disassembled engine. On my Aerovee I'm going to be retrofitting the HVX mods that are Head Specific, by modifying my rockers and rocker arm shafts. I want to fly this airplane more than I want to maximize it's reliability - there are plenty of Aerovee flying WITHOUT any of these tweeks. My circa 2000 engine has "Elephant's Foot" adjusters, which get oiled from spray off the adjusters themselves, they too will benefit from the HVX mods, as anecdote suggests they run a little dry.

Further down the Rabbit Hole - Shop Talk Forums and The Samba are the Air Cooled VW equivalent of this forum. Enthusiasts there tend to run their engines at MUCH higher RPM for MUCH shorter periods, so not everything they say or do apply (particularly WRT cams, porting, and carbs), but it's useful, real world experience. Some relevant threads:
http://vwparts.aircooled.net/SCAT-Swive ... single.htm Are Swivel Feet Worth the Trouble?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... 50#8763950 Part of a larger thread on adjusters; what this guy does is EXACTLY what Veeduber advocates.

Some of these threads mention Genuine Porsche Elephants Foot Adjusters, these are they http://vwparts.aircooled.net/Porsche-Va ... 370-02.htm Almost exactly 8 times the cost of the the Aftermarket adjusters.

I realize, Lou, this hasn't really answered your question, so I'll attempt a synthesis of my OPINION. EITHER the Captive Ball or Elephant Foot adjusters from reputable sources (SCAT, CB Performance, and above all, AirCooled.net) will work for our relatively low RPM, mild cam lift engines, IF they are set up with the proper geometry (adjuster in line with the valve stem at mid-lift, tip of adjuster towards the edge of the valve stem, NOT centered), which requires shimming the rocker shaft stands and grinding the face of the rockers, AND they get enough oil by grooving the rockers themselves and the rocker shafts per Veedubers HVX mods.

[pappas]

I keep coming back to the fact that sometimes an egg is just an egg! Stuff breaks occasionally and it does not necessarily mean that the broken item was junk. Good stuff breaks as well and then we replace them. tonight, and it may change tomorrow, I am of the opinion that any swivel pad adjuster is probably OK. I think I will pick one that has the least narrow "neck" where the adjuster attaches to the swivel pad. Mine broke there, an adjuster with a thicker diameter at that point will likely be my replacement.

Good discussion on all of this. Still, the Waiex really, really held up in the nose and cockpit area for me. A, no joke, strong airframe where it counts. If trouble rears its ugly head, land it, no matter what the terrain looks like. Just don't screw it into the ground!

[bvolcko38]

Does anyone make a valve rotator for type I vw?

[n502pd]

Are there any builders that have any updates on the ball, and/or elephant foot, adjusters, as to brands that are better suited to our use considering strength and longevity?

Also, has anyone considered, found and used roller rockers on Aerovee?

And sourcing and part numbers?