Stuck Rockers!
Moderators: scottm, TrWaters, 392heminut
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firepower354
Stuck Rockers!
Ok, what's the hot tip for unsticking rockers? I have a set that I can't get the exhausts to loosen their grip on the shafts. 3 months of weekly WD40-ing haven't helped. I've tried a nylon faced hammer but don't want to tweak the rockers. Will heat free them? What about weakening the rockers? Thanks in advance.
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392heminut
- Posts: 488
- Joined: Sat Nov 30, 2002 2:16 pm
rockers
When I first got my 330 it was sitting in a cow field out in the open. Most of the rockers were stuck. I used WD 40 and a small hammer to first tap the rockers against the locating springs. Once they moved a little back and forth I started to rotate them on the shaft slowly. After a few minutes on each one they were all moving freely and at that point they were disassembled and reconditioned. If the shafts are rusty under the springs maybe try some emory cloth in this area so the rocker can be slid over this spot.
41 Chevy with blown 330 Desoto / 32 Ford coupe with blown 392 Chrysler
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Don Nicklason
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:49 am
- Location: Roseburg, OR
Stuck Rockers
You said the magic Word-- "HEAT"
First-- get a can of rust buster, nut & bolt lossener, rust penetrant. Brand names of ones you can buy, they all work, I know from experience.
Stand rocker shaft on end, using a propane plumbers torch, or a small tip on welding torch. Wand it back & forth over the rocker while squirting rust buster on shaft so it will run down in to rocker. When "buster" fluid starts to boil, pull flame back, it will be hot enough.
Then try tapping with mallet. A 2nd pair of hands with the mallet works better.
If you are using a oxy/gas torch, adjust for a larger longer blue flame so as not to oxidise your rocker.
The previous suggestion of using emery cloth on the exposed shaft surface is good if they are crusty rusty.
First-- get a can of rust buster, nut & bolt lossener, rust penetrant. Brand names of ones you can buy, they all work, I know from experience.
Stand rocker shaft on end, using a propane plumbers torch, or a small tip on welding torch. Wand it back & forth over the rocker while squirting rust buster on shaft so it will run down in to rocker. When "buster" fluid starts to boil, pull flame back, it will be hot enough.
Then try tapping with mallet. A 2nd pair of hands with the mallet works better.
If you are using a oxy/gas torch, adjust for a larger longer blue flame so as not to oxidise your rocker.
The previous suggestion of using emery cloth on the exposed shaft surface is good if they are crusty rusty.
55 Red Ram Powered 30 A Roadster
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challengerman
stuck rockers!
My opinion/ you can't spray can them once in awhile. I soak mine first in carb cleaner (IMMERSED), flushed them and then soaked them in a Kerosene "mixture" again (IMMERESED). They worked lose and flushed out just fine. I would think heat would be a last resort. Your really don't want to soften these parts up.