The best way to tell if the valves are closed is to observe the rocker arms. When they are both at the top of their travel, valves are closed. Feel the rocker arms and try to move them, if they move their at the top of their travel.
They are not adjustable.
you are probably refering to a rocker arm. In a pushrod motor the rocker are opens the valves. A rod rides on the camshaft and as the lobes on it come around the rod pushes up on the rocker are which does exactly that, rocks the same as the rocker on a rocking chair . The rod pushes up on the rocker which then pushes down on the valve, opening it.
The valves can be adjusted on your 2.3 liter Ford engine. Valves that are noisy may be caused by a bad rocker arm.
replace the hydraulic tappets in the rocker arms, valves are non adjustable.
They transfer motion from the camshaft to the valves.
Rocker arms, in conjunction with the camshafts, do so. The camshaft has an egg pattern on it, and this pushes the rocker arms up and down. The rocker arms are connected to the valves, and this puts the fuel/air mixture into the engine, then takes it out again
You don't. If you have valve clatter you have worn valve train parts starting with camshaft, lifters, push rods, rocker arms, rocker arm pivots and valves.
Rocker arms operate the valves that allow fuel into the cylinder and exhaust out. If they are worn then the valves won't cycle fully, reducing fuel admitted and so reducing power output.
Known as the valve train it starts with the camshaft, then the lifters, then the push rods, then the rocker arms and lastly the valves.
Yes, until there is a rocker arm or camshaft installed to press valves open.
inlet and exaust valves are usually opened by a lobe on a crankshaft, either directly, or with a pushrod and rocker arm assembly.