Has anyone else ever experienced this problem? Since I don't want to slam any manufacturer, and since it was probably due to "installation error", I just want to make certain I don't screw up again! Put in some roller rockers two years ago. Was getting some valve train noise, and upon inspection found a couple valve stems pitted, and one actually gooved across it's width. Yes, I have the correct push rod length and all rockers travel eqaul distance across center of stems. In fact, all the rest look excellent. Anyway, it appears the guide plates may have caused the problem by causing the roller tip to track "rear of center" on these two cylinders. By adjusting the guide plate laterally, I seem to be able to get them to track where they should. When I installed them I was concerned about this and tried to get sound installation instructions but couldn't find any. I thought I had them all set OK, but guess not! So question 1, is there a good installation procedure someone knows about?

The next question is repair. Obviously the CORRECT thing to do would be to pull the heads, replace the valves on these two cylinders, making certain no valve guide damage, and replace the damage rockers. Since we had different ideas for the vehicle money this winter, would prefer to repair the valve stem tip without pulling heads. Before saying I am crazy, this is what I was going to do, and want to know if this is EVER done?

Using a 1" thick flat plate , I drilled a hole through it at 90 degrees to plate the size of the valve stem. I also drilled and tapped a hole at 90 degrees to the valve stem hole and used a brass set screw. To test the tool, I then did the following test on an old set of heads. I removed the valve springs, slipped the tool over the stem, and with stem a few thousandths over plate, tighted set screw lightly. Using a diamond file, with thin piece of tape down each side, I layed to file on plate and filed tip. The tape is to maintain a fixed distance from plate as well as no file away plate and loose my square. I figured if it was a tousandth or two off, I would just rotate the valve stem a few times to effectively set an equal taper all around stem. However, with old heads (stock ones) the stems are slightly pitted in center and filing pattern was equal all around stem center!


It looks like I would have to take about .005 off the tip of my two bad valve stems, and just hit the other two just to be safe. I know this is the highest pressure point in an engine, but figured this would probably work OK. Obviously I will make certain NO filing get into the engine. So lock and load and give your opinions. If it works, it would save me a couple days and $100 in gaskets.


[Modified by C5Don, 3:01 PM 11/23/2001]

 

So long as the valve stem tips are not surface hardened it sounds like it would be worth trying.

Worst case you will have to pull the heads later if you hear valve noise again. Meanwhile if it works you've saved yourself some aggrivation and some $$.

 

Anyone else ever have this happen?
Is adjusting the guide plates the way to get the rockers to track properly?