Setting valve tappet gap on Super A

Shop Manual calls for 0.014 gap Hot. Questions:

1. How long does engine need to be run for these to be considered hot?

2. Do rocker arms/valves have to be in any particular position - or just adjust tappets as the engine stops at whatever point for the valves?

Thanks.

Hot in this case means run it for 10 to 15 minutes then take the valve cover off and adjust. It does not need to be working hot, just into good and warm.
Valve Adjust Jim's way --- It is simple and fool proof. The process works for all engines with adjustable regular valves and any number of cylinders. Identifying the valve order is all that is necessary (given in this process for the IH 4 cyl gas).
I do it this way others do a different system. It must be set cold first, so setting it twice (or once) is normal Get the specification.
Set the intake valve on cylinder #1 (Front) when its exhaust valve just starts to open.
Set the exhaust when the intake just closes.
These are the two positions that can be seen at the springs and retainers for each cylinder to be as far away from a lobe on the cam as possible while still knowing where it is.
The order is (front to back EI-IE-EI-IE)
Look at #1 valves, Turn the engine till the Exhaust just starts to begin opening (moves) then adjust the Intake valve. Rotate more until the intake just stops moving after having been open) and adjust the exhaust. Treat every cylinder (pair of valves shown above) the same way, remembering they switch places between cylinders) I put a rag over the ones I have done to keep track of progress, and avoid mixing what I am looking at. Jim

Thanks for the info. No wonder some of the valves had zero tappet gap. I simply removed the valve cover and checked all as they were positioned. Knew then that I needed to seek help before proceeding.

Thanks My way can be used on any engine and is just a little harder than rotating the crank so many turns and adjusting valves by number from the front, but I like it because I know they are in the correct position. Jim

If it says .014 hot, put them at .016 cold. They will not be far off. Jim has his way of what sequence to use, I don't object to it. I prefer to put #1 on TDC and then adjust 1,2,3,5. Then put #4 at TDC and do 4,6,7,8. The tappets are numbered 1 to 8, front to back. This is in the 4 cylinder gas engine manual, also other places. You do not need to know which is intake or exhaust. There is also one for 6 cylinders. When it becomes difficult is when the rocker tips become distorted, that is where most of the error will be.

If you do it Jim's way , you can be off a few degrees of rotation & still be ok. If you do it CNKS 's way , you will need to be right at TDC which is hard to find the marks on most flywheels. I watch the running mates & when # 4 is between ex & in , I set #1. then do the rest in order 1342.

it's NOT rocket surgery.
See link.

http://www.cleancomputes.com/Cub/Blue Ribbon Service Manuals/Valve Lash Adjusting Procedure.jpg

That all works good on a new cam. I wonder what the actual running gap is in these cams that are 50-60 years old. I still prefer my method.

I've set them with the engine at an idle. It's a little messy and it's easier if you have a helper
with one using the feeler gauge and one person doing the adjusting. Hal