Rocker Arm assembly

[shorn]

Can someone tell me exactly what to look for in a worn rocker arm assembly. I know there may be too much oil coming out of the rocker arms, I know it should only be a drop a second or so and shouldn't spurt up. But is it the clearance between the rocker arms and the shaft that actually wears? Can one tell if there is too much wear by moving the rocker arms sideways to check for play? Since I had water in my oil under the rocker arm cover before a new head gasket, I am wondering if that (the water) might have caused some problems.

 

[Keoke]

Hi Shorn, if you do not have excessive oil spurting out of the rockers I would guess your shaft is OK and the water did not adversly effect the assembly..---Fwiw---Keoke

 

[rustynuts]

I just had my assembly apart recently. Laid all the parts on a rag in order. Then cleaned each one in the parts washer and reassembled it onto the shaft. The shaft was shiny on the underside from the upward forces and each rocker and support was firm when slide along the shaft into position. I did have to insert a screwdriver into one of the holes in the R-shaft to hold some of the rockers since the large springs between them where difficult to keep compressed . As in my case with the lack of a properly maintained oil filtering system, some of the small hole in the rockers had been plugged and consequently reduced the flow of oil onto the rockers. The rockers should be firm on the shaft when checked without any load put on them from the pushrod. I had to use 2000 grit emery cloth to remove the surface crud that had accumulated on the shaft in areas between the rockers in order to get the rockers and supports off the shaft. Also remember to run the emery over the holes in the end that the cotter pins are in to remove any bur that might score the rockers . Hope this answers your question!!!!!

 

[shorn]

I found what I think is a fair amount of wear on the shaft under the rockers. The shaft is no longer shiny under the rockers. At idle a couple of the holes seem to be putting out more oil than the rest, although it is not spurting. In any event I removed the assembly and sent it off to Rocker Arm Specialist. It will be renewed and back in a week. Cost $144.