Rocker arm shaft question

[MarkA]

Hey everyone,

I pulled my rocker shaft and sent it off to Rocker Arm Specialists for reconditioning. 1 week turn-around, which included shipping time. Great guys and great work.

But now my question (which I think I already know the answer): Each of my rocker arms had a piece of wire stuck in the hole in the top of the arm. Upon return, the wire is no longer there, just an empty hole. Was that wire an "add on" from the previous owner to stop squirting oil? I always wondered how you could have squirting oil all over the place with no where for it to come out!

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Keoke]

Well I guess the PO could have stuck some wire in the holes to divert oil from a worn shaft . However, that is a new trick to me. Consequently, your shaft sans the wires is ready for install as delivered by RAS.----Keoke

 

[MarkA]

Hi Keoke,

The wire was a pain... literally! I've got a few pokes in my hand from the sharp wire ends of those plugs.

Thanks for your reply,
Mark

 

[anthony7777]

mark, i sent them my set up along with a new shaft and new springs, they did a really nice job. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif

 

[John Loftus]

Mark,

Just in case you haven't been warned ..

Make sure you install the bolt for the oil feed pipe into the threaded pedestal (needs to line up with the oil hole in the rocker shaft) before mounting the rocker shaft assembly onto the head. Otherwise it's easy to strip the threads (like my genius engine rebuilder did!)

Cheers,
John

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

I was more lucky that you are. When I bought my car back in 1971, the engine had been rebuilt by a Ferrari specialist. The oil didn't squirt all over the place due to the much worn rockershaft(and novice Healey owner), because the pipe elbow that connects the oil to the rocker shaft was crimped to slow down the oil flow. It did slowe the oil down quite a bit. It probably contributed to the good oil pressure that the engine had whn I bought the car.
Patrick

 

[MarkA]

It sure is interesting what people will do when they use the bailing wire approach to fixing a problem.

Thanks John for the heads up on the bolt alignment.

Mark

 

[John Loftus]

I've heard of the 'crimping the pipe elbow' method of slowing the flow before. I guess it works in a pinch. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

Cheers,
John

 

[GregW]

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif

 

[Randy Forbes]

I've heard of the 'crimping the pipe elbow' method of slowing the flow before. I guess it works in a pinch. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

Cheers,
John

On Healey engines I've built to run at higher RPM, I weld up the adapter's orifice (where the pipe connects to the head) and redrill it to a smaller area. That still allows adequate lubrication to the rockerarms without flooding the head, and guarantees more oil volume to the crankshaft main & rod bearings.

 

[Keoke]

Hmm, Good thought Randy, I will give that one a try too.---Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif

 

[MarkA]

Randy,

What size drill do you use?

Mark