Beta 38 Valve Clearance

Halfmoon · Member

Beta 38 Valve Clearance

Farron · Senior Member

Hello Tom,

Valve clearances may vary per model of engine.

Typical Beta 38 valve clearance is .165 mm for intake and exhaust.

A black data tag can normally be found on the valve cover of USA imported engines. The valves clearances are stated on the black data tag.

If you do not have a black data tag on the valve cover get back with us and we will verify clearance for your engine via the serial number.

Halfmoon · Member

Hi Thanks

The engine is ex UK Beta factory. There is no black tag visible on the valve cover but there is something wedged in between the cover the HX housing??

WOC number K27388 Engine Number BE5984

What is the recommended hours for checking the valve adjustment. And why no reference in the Operators Manual?

Thanks for your assistance.
Tom

Farron · Senior Member

Hello Tom,

By the numbers you have supplied, it can be safely assumed that the engine was purchased in 2011 or 2012.

Per the Kubota manual, use .165 mm, cold, for intake and exhaust valve clearance.

I advise that you follow the Kubota recommended service interval of 800 hours for checking valve clearance.

Beta Marine provides an "Operators Maintenance Manual". This manual covers normal maintenance procedures to be carried out by the end user through 750 hours or service.
The kubota work shop manual extends service interval recommendations out to 3,000 hours.

For more involved maintenance procedures and related specifications, the Kubota workshop manual should be consulted.

Halfmoon · Member

Hi

Thanks so much for the info.. Just coming up on the 800 hr mark.

Lots of hour for 2 years. They don't call it the "motor-terranain" for nothing.

Cheers Tom

Halfmoon · Member

Hi again

Does the valve cover gasket need to be replaced or can it be reused? I am not in convenient locate to get a replacement.

Thanks Tom

Stanley · Guru

The valve cover gasket is re-useable rubber gasket.

GaryMTownsend · Newbie

Hi, coming up on 750 hours on our Beta 38 and I want to check the valve clearance. I have copied the section from the shop manual on checking valve clearance below and added a couple of questions.

The shop manual says to
1.Remove the cylinder head cover and the glow plugs. I assume glow plug removal is to take compression off and allow hand rotation of the engine?

This is where I start to get confused.
2. Align the 1TC mark (1) on the flywheel and alignment mark (2) on the rear end plate so that the No. 1 piston comes to the compression top dead center. Do I need to remove the bell housing and follow this procedure (looks like a major hassle) , or can I eyeball it by finding the number 1 cylinder and rotating engine back and forth at close to TDC to find the max valve clearance and then check/adjust to specified clearance?

Steps 3 and 4 look fairly straightforward.
3. Check the following valve clearance marked with , using a thickness gauge.
4. If the clearance is not within the factory specifications, adjust with the adjusting screw.

Same question for below as for 2 above except move to other valve on cylinder 1?
5. Then turn the flywheel 6.28 rad (360 °), and align the 1TC mark
(1) on the flywheel and alignment mark (2) on the rear end plate so that the No. 1 piston comes to the overlap position. Not sure what the overlap position is?

Thanks for help.

Gary

Stanley · Guru

Hello Gary,

With the glow plugs out the engine will turn over very easily. I recommend that you just turn the engine over until cylinder #1 has one valve at its loosest. This takes some time to get the correct "feel". Set this valve to the correct factory spec and continue on until you have checked (and adjusted if necessary!) all the valves. Check again and when done make sure that each lock nut has been tightened and that the desired clearance is there.

Valve clearance Factory spec. 0.145 to 0.185 mm (0.00571 to 0.00728 in.)

This is basically what you described in the 2nd half of your point # 2. Then refit the glow plugs and the valve cover. You should now be ready to start.

Stanley

GaryMTownsend · Newbie

Hi Stanley, thanks for your quick reply and advice. I will give it a go. We love our Beta. Seven years since our install and not a single issue with the engine.

Regards,

Gary

GaryMTownsend · Newbie

Valve clearances checked and all fine. Did not need to remove glow plugs. Slowly rotated engine and if rotation became difficult due to compression just waited for it to drop off. Got this tip from a diesel mechanic friend who said better to leave as much as possible alone since may have problems re-seating etc. and why bother if just have to wait a few seconds. But be sure to rotate engine in right direction. Clockwise when viewed from the front.

All worked fine. As is often the case, figuring out what to do and making the commitment by loosening the first bolt or nut is often the biggest challenge... Thanks again Stan.

Gary