Just stay tuned. I'm not convinced it was the problem. The first time I took it apart, it was definitely getting oil and I had noticed the noise for a couple weeks but didn't have time to check it out. This last time, the cup was dry. So I'm thinking the crud of a wearing component blocked the hole and compounded the issue. The hole oiling the cup is not pressurized so if crud gets in there, it can build up easily until it stops flow completely.


Lawrenceville, GA

Charlie, hope you found your problem, I'm running the same rockers and have never had an issue but you had me concerned...

BOB

I checked the clearance yesterday and it was good.


Lawrenceville, GA

I found that the passage from the shaft to the pushrod cup became blocked. Hopefully that caused the original failure. I found no other blockages and the rocker arm looks fine. It seemed to be oiling normally on the shaft and at the roller tip. I'll check the lash in a few days and see if the problem is solved.



How would it relatively suddenly become blocked?



I also eyeballed my valve clearance. It looks like I could go another .050 to .100 on lift if I wanted to. No interference issues there.


Lawrenceville, GA

As John mentions, the shapes may not be correct between ball and pushrod socket. As mentioned in another post, I lapped a set together once sitting in a chair on a beach. I am not saying to do that these days, but you could take and use some fine lapping compound and match each rocker and rod.

It does sound like hardening issues though.

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

Charley, metallurgy and heat treat are everything. We found on cam and lifter break-in that if the cam and lifters are made of the correct material and heat treated properly you can get away with many other problems. The crown on the lifter, lobe rake and oil don't need to be perfect. If the metallurgy or heat treat is incorrect, nothing is going to make it live. All the oil additives, reduced spring pressure, 20 minute break-in at exactly 2000 rpm ect ect are a waste of time.

Having said that, correct lobe rake and lifter crown will make it last longer than incorrectly made parts. The reason I mention this is another possible problem might be the shape of the adjuster ball itself. Perhaps they are not a true 3/16" radius. This would cause additional load in small areas while other areas of the ball would not make contact.

 The other possible cause is that some materials although strong, have poor scrubbing properties. They might just be made of the wrong material.

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

A lot! I didn't check, but it was probably between 1/16" to 1/8" after 3 days.



Come to think of it, the original stuff does seem to be much better than this aftermarket stuff, replacement push rods included, even if it is made in the USA. I remember when I first got the truck, neither of the shafts were oiling. It had self locking adjusters that were no longer self locking. So I oiled and adjusted the shafts weekly. It had a combination of tubular and solid push rods. I never had anything break or wear, even with no oil getting there while running. It seems it is true, that they don't make things like they use to. Of course, the springs were stock, lift was lower, so it may not be a fair assertion.


Lawrenceville, GA

Thanks Charlie.  What kind of clearance did it open up to?

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

It's the same rocker.


Lawrenceville, GA

Charlie.  The Dove rockers are not made in China for what that’s worth in this day and age.  From your decription this problem exists on the same rocker that you just replaced the stud on or is it another rocker?  The replacement studs I sent to you are supposedly produced from the correct material and I have them on hand specifically for when questions about stud quality come up.  There was a bad batch of studs made from mismarked material awhile back and these new studs are on hand to correct those problems.  Your rockers do predate that time period when those defective rocker studs hit the market place though.  I’ll be curious as to what you find as you delve deeper into this new wear issue.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)