bad rocker adjustment, or bad lifter?

[rwhite65]

Well, I tried to get the stang out of storage, after warming it up, I noticed a noise on the driver side that sounded like a poorly adjusted rocker. I knew last year they sounded a little loose, but not too bad.
Got a ways down the road and it got real loud, then I started getting some back firing out of the driver side header, lost engine power. I was able to limp it back to the building, but gotta run to a concert tonight.

Ok, I adjusted them at top dead, right to a half turn maybe a little less, then locked the set screw on to the stud. Maybe I forgot a set screw and the nut back itself off? Sure sounded like a rocker, but I don’t really know what a bad roller lifter would sound like or how to test em.

Any takes boys, tom I am going to go back up there and pull a valve cover.
Thanks,
Ryan

[~The Jester~]

Happens to me all the time! LOL I actually had a set of valves so poorly adjusted that when the lifters got pumped up, the engine actually quit running. DOH!

There's alot of weird forces at work on a valve train, and a nut backing itself off is not uncommon at all. That's prolly all ya did bro.

Adjust 'em back up, fire it and see what happens.

[rwhite65]

One of the studs backed its way out of the head, leaving the rocker just floating there in the head. Looked at the stud's threads, and saw where I had not put much lock tite (my bad). Re installed it, adjusted all the rockers on that side (3/4) turn with both intake and exhaust on each cylinder in the closed position. Fired it up, darn valve train was still noisy. Re-adjusted the passenger side rockers, fired it up and I swear I can hear a rocker lose on the driver side. Am I missing something here? I have never had troubles with flat tappets, but I can’t see how hyd rollers are any different.

When I am done adjusting, some of the rockers still feel loose (I can wiggle them on the valve end a little) I thought 3/4 turn was enough.

Ryan

[ols0051]

I can't ever seem to get mine right. How about one that's collapsing? I have one on a new set that sounds like a loose arm but it's just junk, and has to come out. just a thought.

[rwhite65]

It sounds like only one to me. I am gonna get one of those mechanics stethescopes (spelling??) and try to narrow it down, readjust it again, and go from there I suppose.
Ryan

[jwboner]

Another way to adjust rockers that I've had luck with is to get a pair of cheap stamped steel valve covers from a swap meet or something and cut the tops open. Bolt them on to keep the oil from getting everywhere and adjust the rockers while the engine is running. Tighten them till the clacking stops and then just a little bit more. Wear some gloves because if it takes a while the oil gets hot. If you can't get it any other way it's always an option.

[rwhite65]

I have a set of those valve covers available to me. I may have to give them a try.
Ryan

[rwhite65]

Thanks for the help everyone. The method of one down one up worked great. No more ticking!
Ryan

[Rev]

Originally Posted by rwhite65

Thanks for the help everyone. The method of one down one up worked great. No more ticking!
Ryan

That's how I do it and 1/2-3/4 down is plenty. One other thing I do is, after you lock it with the allen set screw, is give it a slight nudge tighter with a socket or box end on the adjuster nut just so I know it's good and tight."Slight nudges" are the key words here. I've heard of people twisting off a rocker stud with a 1/2 inch drive socket on the locking nut.

Rev