h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Anybody remember using one of these? They were a little gadget that had a 1/2" drive for a socket with a ratcheted screwdriver in the centre - they were really handy when adjusting valve clearances on pushrod engines, especially if you've a bit of wear in the rocker arm to make your feeler gauge inaccurate.

My question is - can anybody confirm whether they gave 2 thou of clearance for each click? I recently found mine languishing in the bottom of a tool box and my Morris engine is bit on the rattly side when I set it up with feelers.

I'm a bit paranoid about valve seat recession with unleaded petrol, although I have to say that the additve I use seems okay.

Aha - Frost Auto Restoration market what seems to be the identical thing as the 'Clikadjust' - but they don't say how many clicks per thou it is..

Okay - sussed it (with a little help from Google and an MG site). What you need to do is calibrate it to the car you're doing. Bung a 10 thou gauge in, then back off the adjuster until it will take a 10 thou plus the gap you need, and count the clicks. Presto!

I bet you all knew that!

have to say never come across one of these.

Have a look at http://www.mgcars.org.uk/electrical/Clikadjust_2.html and at http://www.mgcars.org.uk/electrical/Clikadjust_1.html and you'll see what I mean. They're quite nifty - and if you follow the links you'll find that the data for Midgets is already available.