Valve clearances?

[btjtaylor]

Been having a look through my service paperwork and I can't find any evidence the valve clearances have ever been done (the service book actually says every 25k!)

Here's my parts list:
Rocker cover gasket (Honda 12341R40A00)
Hondabond sealant
(Rather expensive) adjustment tool (POWERBUILT 10MM JAM NUT VALVE CLEARANCE ADJUSTMENT TOOL - MOST HONDA by Tegiwa from only £33.00 | Tegiwa Imports)

I have a set of feeler guages somewhere but I need to check they have the appropriate sizes as per below:

Clearances from USA TSX manual PDF:
Intake 0.21 - 0.25mm
Exhaust 0.25 - 0.29mm

(i've got the european ESM which i'll compare with when actually doing the job but it's on an old Windows XP laptop that I don't have access to at the moment)

This video seems like a good video of the process:
HOW TO: Honda K Series Valve Adjustment (Honda Master Technician) - YouTube

From what I've read/watched it might not be necessary to replace the rocker cover gasket but I don't want to take it off, find out it's shagged and then have to wait a week for a new one to arrive

There is also some seals around the spark plug holes but it seems extremely unlikely they'll need changing unless the plugs are oily (I had them out a few weeks back for a service and didn't notice that so they shouldn't be) and/or I damage them during removal/installation of the cover

Has anyone on here done this job DIY? Do you need the adjustment tool or can I get away with a flexi head ring spanner and a screwdriver?

 

[Hondoob]

Valve clearances are the same:

Intake: 0.21−0.25 mm (0.008−0.010 in.)
Exhaust: 0.25−0.29 mm (0.010−0.011 in.)

Just to note the maintenance schedule on the ESM states "Inspect valve clearance" "Every 100,000 km (62,500 miles)". Inspect could just be "Does it sound tappity? No? Done."

I had mine adjusted at 101k miles as I noticed the engine getting slightly tappety. I didn't trust myself to know the feel for the gauges I so paid for it to be done and got the gasket and all spark plug seals replaced too.

Whether you do it yourself or not I'd recommend buying the parts from Japan. The rocker cover gasket is just £15 delivered and the whole set of gaskets, seals and washers is £48 delivered.

Here's the part diagram on Amayama. I've bought from them 5 times now and they've been great. Usually 2 weeks delivery if the parts are in stock.

 

[btjtaylor]

After sleeping on it I'm going to get a honda specialist garage that isn't miles away from me (Honda HQ in Cannock) to do it.

I'm sure I could do the job but it would be a stressful one as I've not done it before and not removed the rocker cover on this car, as they quoted a very reasonable £75 plus the cost of a replacement gasket if required. By the time I'd bought the tool, gasket and a tube of hondabond I'm almost there!

With regards to engine noise, I've not actually heard another of these cars before as it was the only suitable manual one for sale at the time I bought it but I looked at a low mileage cl9 when I was shopping for mine and whilst its not an apples-to-apples comparison its engine was a lot quieter so I reckon mine sounds a bit "tappety" as you describe.

That Amayama website is a great shout, I'll see if I can get some fog lights off there as both of mine have cracked lenses and the only reasonable price ones I can find locally are non genuine parts

 

[Hondoob]

Glad you’ve gone with Dan and Matt at Honda HQ; they are fantastic and I was gonna recommend them. Good prices and excellent work. They’re also well happy to chat and have no problem with you supplying the parts.

Amayama are great, just remember that any orders over £135 (that’s parts + shipping) will incur customs duty and VAT at approx 23% on top, payable to the courier when they enter the UK. However, it is still almost always cheaper than buying from within the UK.