Make some adjustments when about to take penalty (6)
I believe the answer is:
refine
'make some adjustments' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'about to take penalty' is the wordplay.
'about' becomes 're' ('re' means regarding or about).
'to take' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'penalty' becomes 'fine' (a financial penalty).
're'+'fine'='REFINE'
'when' is the link.
(Other definitions for refine that I've seen before include "Purify or make more cultured" , "Remove impurities from (eg, metals)" , "Get rid of impurities" , "Remove impurities or make cultured" , "Remove impurities as from oil" .)