Driver Bit with Knob welded on end
10mm Socket with strap welded to top
Rubber Grommet to hold Driver Bit Shaft in 10mm Socket
Every time I needed to adjust the valves on my ’86 I wished I had one of those valve adjusting tools. I just could not see parting with $35-40 bucks for one that had several other pieces I did not need. If you work on different types of valve adjusting systems it might be worthwhile. I finally broke down and made my own. The parts involved sacrificing one of my 10mm ¼ inch drive, six point deep well sockets and an old driver bit from my power screwdriver bit set.
I also used a piece of 1/8 inch thick by 5/8 inch wide bar stock six inches long for the handle and an old knurled knob from my junk box. I ground a half circle in the end of the bar stock before brazing it to the top of the socket. I drilled/ground out the inner portion of the socket enough to accept the flat tip screwdriver bit so it didn't bind when turing. My bit was double ended, flat tip and Phillips. I cut the Phillips end off, drilled out the knurled knob and brazed the bit into the knob. I made it long enough so that the bit does not protrude through the end of the socket when fully inserted. When placed on a rocker nut, the knob moves up about ½ inch or so.
Placing the tool on the valve adjuster nut causes the knob to move up about ½ inch above the socket. This gizmo made the job so easy I went through the procedure twice to really get the feel for its use. I hate trying to balance a screwdriver in one hand and a number 10mm wrench in the other while working a feeler gauge in there to get the setting just right. Using this tool enables me to hold the feeler gauge in one hand and do the screwdriver/wrench operations with the other. Less frustration, more satisfaction, combined with accurate adjustments will now make this oft-repeated chore a pleasure to perform.
