ToyotaVanPeople.com

I've been needing to adjust the valves on my Previa for the last 5k miles after doing the head gasket. I've been putting the job off though because I didn't have the correct tool and didn't want to improvise. Anyhow, I called a couple local Toyota dealerships without any luck, but finally got lucky and talked to a service adviser that told me to try OTC-SPX.

I Googled them and got a hit. The company is SPX Corporation and they sell Kent-Moore, Miller Specialty Tools, OTC, and several others. Their phone number is 866-640-7305 -or- you can call Kent-Moore tools at 800-345-2233. I called and gave them the SST number directly out of the service manual. Instead of getting the run-around, they asked me where I'd like it sent and how would I like to pay! Price was fair, service was great, and shipping was fast! Thought this information might come in handy for the rest of you guys.

Now I got no excuse to keep putting off that valve adjust . Tim

pics of the tool?

How is that tool used to adj the valves? My only experience with bucket and shim is on early 80 kawi gpz's. The drill was to measure the clearance on all valves, figure out what size shim will bring the clearance to spec, remove cams, swap shims, reinstall cams, repeat till its spot on.

Yeah, that's basically what this is for. You need to measure valve lash 1st by positioning engine to TDC, measure half the valves, then rotate 360 deg and measure the other half. If the lash on any valves are out of spec, that's where this tool comes in. You use it by wrapping the jaws around the cam, then rotating the jaw between the cam shaft and valve spring to depress the spring. Once depressed you use the other part to pop the shim out. Once out you mike the shim and use that dimension along with the lash reading to determine the size you need to bring the lash back into spec.

I plan on taking some pics and doing a write up on the job when I get around to it. I'm almost finished with a major job that's been taking up all my time for the past 2 months (thank God). After I complete that I'll start having some time to catch up on my vehicles again . Tim

So, the cams don't need to come out? That's cool. Thanks for posting this info.