[leejoy]

Help

I've got roller rockers on my chevy big block. I got them from someone else - they might be kind of old. I believe they are Crane Energizer. I noticed today that the pin that holds the rocker tip roller in place are starting to slide outwards a little bit on most of the rockers. I took one of the rockers off and put it in a vice and pressed the pin back in. That worked. I'm running a street roller cam. This is a street application - not drag racing.

I'm wondering though if these will eventually work themselves out and the roller and pin will break free, fall off and get into the crankcase.

Is this common? Do I have anything to worry about?

Should I

1) leave it alone
2) press the pins back in, and reuse them
3) replace the entire rockers with all new ones
4) replace just the pins

thanks.

Lee

[Guy Hiltz]

Hey Lee,if I were you I would replace them with a set of Crane ProGold rocker arms.If any of those pins come out,the roller tip will fall out,and you will be rebuilding your big block again.I am useing the Crane Gold rockers and they are top quality peices.
Guy

[327NUT]

Anything to worry about???? No not really..........unless the pins come out. Why would you even think about it? A new set of Comp Cams Magnum roller tip rockers are only about $145. True, they're not a total "Roller Rocker" but they are GREAT street rocker arms and last forever. I wouldn't run the engine again until I changed them out to even stock stamped units.

[smrat]

yes sir either spend an hr or so replacing the rockers with a new set a couple hundred bucks or start kicking your self in the A++ later when you are rebuilding your the engine... a couple grand.

[k-star]

I have seen a few sets of rockers where that pin was never centered from new. I think it has to do with the fixturing they use when they assemble them.

My questions to you??

Is the pin tight but off center??

The end of the pin thats sticking out of the rocker, Does it have a large chamfer on it compared to the other side???

Keith

[leejoy]

Originally Posted by k-star

I have seen a few sets of rockers where that pin was never centered from new. I think it has to do with the fixturing they use when they assemble them.

My questions to you??

Is the pin tight but off center??

The end of the pin thats sticking out of the rocker, Does it have a large chamfer on it compared to the other side???

Keith

The pins are tight, but for how long? When I put the rocker in a vice and pressed the pin back in - it went in easily. Did not take much pressure. That tells me it's going to come out eventually.

Also, I would think that both ends of the pins would be punched or something such that they are "wider" and won't slip out. The pin on my rockers are NOT like that, so they just "walk" right out. It's an accident waiting to happen I guess. Some of the pins were out about 1/8", while others had not moved at all. Most of them had the pins starting to walk out.

I'm going to just buy all new rockers and put this behind me. I've already torn that engine apart once a year ago and don't want to do it again. Too much work. And if one of those pins does fall out there could be catastrophic engine failure as a result. I'll just spend the $250 and get it over with.

Lee

[oldbogie]

Originally Posted by leejoy

Help

I've got roller rockers on my chevy big block. I got them from someone else - they might be kind of old. I believe they are Crane Energizer. I noticed today that the pin that holds the rocker tip roller in place are starting to slide outwards a little bit on most of the rockers. I took one of the rockers off and put it in a vice and pressed the pin back in. That worked. I'm running a street roller cam. This is a street application - not drag racing.

I'm wondering though if these will eventually work themselves out and the roller and pin will break free, fall off and get into the crankcase.

Is this common? Do I have anything to worry about?

Should I

1) leave it alone
2) press the pins back in, and reuse them
3) replace the entire rockers with all new ones
4) replace just the pins

thanks.

Lee

Replace them all:

- OK designs swage the ends of the axle, this insures it and the bearings will stay in place, but results in a rocker that isn't rebuildable, at least not easily.

- The best design retains the axle with a Circlip on at least one side with a head on the other or Circlips on both sides. This provides for positive retention and disassembly for maintenance and rebuilding.

- The least desirable design is where the axle is pressed in place. The roller tip is highly loaded; over time the mounting boss deforms allowing the axle to loosen. If it were to come out while the engine is in operation, serious, perhaps fatal, damage will occur to the engine as the wreckage is circulated by the lubrication system. Personally, I would never have a moments peace knowing something like this was in the engine.

Bogie

[Double_v23]

I purchased a set of Howards Racing Components Roller Rockers for 230 bucks and they were just as good as anything from crane or comp at half the price. This was on a BBC though.

[SSedan64]

I've seen this also. Purchased rollers from Summit made by Crane. Identical to the Blazer model they used to sell. Many of the pins were not pressed in all the way. I sent 3 back to Summit & the ones they sent to replace those were the same. Sent them back again & got the exact same? So I just pressed them in myself. Never had a problem with them getting loose, but may be a good time to check them.

[DaSouthWon]

Press the pin in and use a center punch to divet the edge of the pin hole, two on each side. Don't bend the arm. Go to the summit site immediately after that and order new rockers.