Rocker On! [sort of]

[Crisis]

I removed the valve cover on my 73 TR6 to set the clearances and look what I found while cleaning up.

I hope no damage has been done; I don't see any.
Is there a way to prevent this from happening? Will threadlock stick to something covered in oil?
I appreciate any advice, thank you.

 

[sabot]

OUCH!
Hope everything is ok, tom

 

[Merlin63Tr4]

Ouch is right! There is supposed to be a cupped star washer under the head of that screw, did you find that?

 

[Crisis]

No I did not. I better look, but really, where could it have gone (nervous laughter)?

 

[Moseso]

No I did not. I better look, but really, where could it have gone (nervous laughter)?

Right down the same hole that screw dried to dive into -- in which case it is sitting near the tappet. If it gets into the tappet, it could make a real mess of your push rod.

Or you could be really lucky and find it still on top of the head. That would be a huge relief! Look everywhere. Use a magnet.

 

[TR4]

Maybe the washer never was installed? That would be one reason the screw came loose. I would be checking to make sure other required washers are there.

 

[Moseso]

Looking closer at the picture of the empty hole in the alloy rocker pedestal, I don't see any indication that the star washer was ever in there. IIRC, it left definite marks in the countersunk hole on mine.

 

[Brosky]

Examine the tapered countersink to see if there is an imprint of a star washer in there. If so, get the magnet out and be prepared to remove the rockers, so you can remove the push rod to get a clean view down to the lifter. You do not want that washer getting between the cam and lifter. Unlikely that it will happen, but do your best to insure that it can't.

 

[cheseroo]

I suppose if you are super-duper lucky it falls into the sump where it's too big to get sucked through the oil pump inlet screen and it lives out the rest of it's happy life in a hot tub (of sorts).

 

[Minesweeper]

I don't think you need worry about the washer since the TR6 doesn't have a star washer on that screw. That screw not only locks the rocker shaft in place, it also prevents oil from gushering up out of the hole in the shaft, thereby directing the flow of oil through the rocker shaft galley to each the rocker arms. Having a star washer on the screw would allow a quantity of oil to seep by the screw instead of directing it all of it to where it is needed. Since the screw became dislodged, I would remove the rocker assembly and inspect the shaft for any damage that may have been caused by insufficient oil delivery to the rocker arms.

As far as ensuring this doesn't happen again -- I think it's just one of those things you have to check periodically. Owner's manual says to check valve clearances every 12k miles (which would be about once per year on a daily driver), so I check valve clearances (and that screw!) every year even though my milage is much less. Same with oil changes, lubing grease fittings, etc.

Scott

 

[bgbassplyr]

When you reinstall the screw, lightly stake it to the pedestal.