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General Tech Where is the Rocker Shaft Retainer Pin

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DornTRoriginal

DornTRoriginal

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What a disaster... I just recv'd my new, stonger, shorter custom push rods and was installing them today I noticed that the front retainer pin was missing from the rocker assembly, I had placed the rocker assembly onto the studs to measure for the new ones, and as you may recall had a difficult time getting the tappets to seat correctly.... I put it back onto the studs with the valve cover and I went on working on other stuff. well now, after all that the retainer pin is gone and I am pretty sure it dropped into the engine through the push rod tube, (I saw it and tried to pull it out but it dropped as I was pulling it out when it encounterd a bumb on the way up). I have looked inside the tappets, used my magnet, wire, grabber thing inside the push rod tube with no luck. I poured some 30 wt oil into the tubes, four times and drained the oil into a filter but no luck, dang it! The engine turns without any noticable binding so things seem fine. Will the pin eventually just fall into to pan if I keep pouring oil into the engine? Anyone have ideas? I guess I could pull the pan and seach for it? Not what I was thinking I'd do right now..

BTW the rockers were rebuilt by a reputable source when I told them what happened they say it has never happened ever..... just my luck I guess? They are sending me new retainer pins which is sweet.....

Thanks!
 
That's a tough one. If it didn't manage to fall into a tappet, then hopefully it will just fall harmlessly into the crankcase. A magnetic drain plug might even catch it, once you get the engine running.

But if it should wander into just the wrong place, you could get a lot of damage very quickly; especially if your oil pickup screen is cracked (as most of them are). Some years back I had a locktab break off, and lock the oil pump, resulting in instant no oil pressure. Fortunately that engine was kind of tired and I noticed the bearing clatter before any serious damage was done, but it could have been much worse.

You're talking about the pin that holds the cap on the end of the shaft, right? Oddly enough, I had one of them come loose as well, after being rebuilt by a reputable source. Fortunately, I caught it before it came completely apart. The originals were Mills pins, but the rebuilder substituted a split (spring) pin that didn't fit very tightly. Mills pins are tapered, and the split pin didn't follow the taper. So I reamed the holes until they were the same size and installed a larger split pin. Never did contact them to complain, so I guess they can honestly say they haven't heard about it ... but it has happened.
 
Do your self a favor, DROP THE PAN! Whatever, FIND THE PIN! If you don't, it might be $$$$$$$$$. JMHO. PJ
 
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