caps on valve stems loose?

[ca1ic0cat]

Got the head covers off just to find out that I don't have the right spark plug wrench (and none in the tool kit) so I have to go get one.

In the meantime I noticed that there are small caps on the ends of the valve stems. Where the rocker isn't in contact with the stem the caps are loose. Is this normal?

Thanks,

Eric

[marc]

Yes. It wiggles to allow full contact between rocker arm and valve stem as the rocker arm moves through its arc of travel.

[Spikidave]

I noticed these caps when I went to check my valve clearances a few months ago. Because of these caps, I wasn't able to insert my feeler gauges to check the clearances. Was I just doing it wrong or is there a differnet method of checking clearances in this instance?

[marc]

You may be trying to insert the feeler at the wrong place. The caps aren't actuality on the valve stem, they are on the adjuster. The feelers go between the cap and the valve stem. Look on this page [snafu.org] at the image labeled "Almost perfect". Click on the image to make it larger. You'll see how the feelers fit.