Valve Lash Adjustment on Ford 555C

[Rhm555c]

Trying to get help on adjusting the valve lash/clearance on Ford 555C backhoe with 2800 hrs run time. As far as I know, this engine has never had the valve lash adjusted. Engine starts well in all weather conditions and runs great, uses no oil but just want to ensure best performance so was going to adjust the clearance. I had a 67 Cuda with a 273 with solid lifters and adjusted them and got a quieter and smoother running engine. Have service manual and operations manual and it gives the specifications for lash using feeler gauge but no real details on how to rotate the engine.
Question:
1. With the hydraulic pump mounted to the front of the engine, what is the best way to turn the engine to get the lifters open in the right spot. In the past I had used a socket wrench on the bolt for the crank/harmonic balancer and rotated by hand. But hydraulic pump bolts right to the crank shaft so not able to access it. Someone suggested that I loosen the alternator belt and pull the starter and rotate by the teeth on the flywheel but I have no idea on how hard pulling the starter will be on this.
I did replace the alternator belt on this and had to disconnect the hydraulic pump and what a pain that was given I could not get a socket in there and had to use open end wrenches.

Any other help or advise on how to do this would be appreciated
Thanks

 

[Rhm555c]

I talked to a number of people and got inputs on how best do this and it was relatively easy.
So process was:
1. Disconnect battery and shut off fuel
1A, Loosen the alternator belt
2.Remove valve cover and breather tube. I sand blasted and painted before putting back together with new gasket.
3. I used a box end wrench on the 5/8 bolts that hold the hydraulic pump shaft to the crank and was able to turn the engine.
4. I watched the height of the lifters to see what each intake or exhaust was reaching max height and adjusted the lash to spec as in the operators manual.
Some were 3-4 /1000th loose and out of spec. Spec was 014 to 016 on intake and 017 to 019 on exhaust. I went around 3 times and checked everything again twice just to make sure I did it right.
Put everything back together and was happy with results. Quieter and more power. It revs up much quicker.