Scary FAIlure !

[bartlett]

We took the car out cruising and I noticed my lifters /rockers had gained some noise ! My heart dropped and I put the car away and for the rest of the week. I have been crying about losing my cam and needing to redo my motor ! I took the valve cover off and my heart sank as I now have 60 tho under one rocker ! just then I noticed there was no ball showing out of the pushrod !   SO after tearing them all off I have one rocker that wore the ball in half ! all the rest look perfect and measured out good.  WHY ? seems to be getting oil (not blued) no dings or scratches on pushrod from intake, pushrod not bent, bad luck ? defect? replace it and move on ?  scary sheet ..... I can take a pic if it would be helpful ...... HELP !

[jayb]

Might be just the rocker adjuster.  I've heard of cases where they are not hardened properly and will wear.  How does the pushrod look?

Note:  Edited post; read the problem wrong the first time...

[bartlett]

[Barry_R]

Bad adjuster is my guess.  Heat treat was probably too shallow - once you wear past the outer layer you're into soft metal and it'll wear off pretty fast.  They cannot harden an adjuster through because the threaded portion would become too brittle, so they just get a case hardening or they mask the threads with copper plate.

[bartlett]

so........  New adjuster and run it ? all new adjusters? what brand if so ? ....   would this cause motor damage or bearing failure ?  change oil and filter add the zinc and go ? 

thanks a ton ....

[Barry_R]

Personally - all new adjusters and run it.

[drdano]

If those are Comp adjusters, I'd ditch all of them (keep a few spares in a bag in the toolbox) and get a whole new set from Smith Bros.  More info on the topic here:  http://fepower.net/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=659.0

[bartlett]

they are comp adjusters.... I have one complete side finished and back together. next up the other side. I will be replacing them all when I can get some to my door.

[GJCAT427]

Your picture got me thinking. I went out and dug out my Comp/Dove setup, After looking at the adjusters they all look like your bad one, I believe they are made that way, mine are not worn like yours but are not a full "ball" either. I can see where they would be of concern.

[bartlett]

Got in touch with smith brothers and they helped me spend all my money ! lol .. I got every thing new including better pushrods. A little R&R this weekend and it should be good to go ....

[cjshaker]

Got in touch with smith brothers and they helped me spend all my money ! lol .. I got every thing new including better pushrods. A little R&R this weekend and it should be good to go ....

Are yours used? Because that is not normal. They should all be round like the good one shown, regardless of maker....unless they have a TON of miles on them.

Bartlett, I would flush that engine down good. Very good. You will want to get all the worn metal particles out. In fact, if it were me, I'd change the filter and oil, run it with the new parts, and then change it again after an hour or two running. Better safe than sorry.

[jayb]

+1 on Doug's suggestion.  Changing your oil a couple of times is cheap insurance.

[bartlett]

oh for sure I will be changing the oil, My thoughts are that the wear on that adjuster turned it into micro dust and impregnated it self into the oil. I will install the new parts and run the car a bit and then a oil change. hopefully all is well ... thanks

[bartlett]

Worked on the car today , I was just so happy to find out two push rods on the drivers side cant be removed simply because they run right into the brake booster !  I said a few swear words and removed the booster.... 

[RICK LAKE]

Bartlett No to be a bad guy here but have you checked the lobe on the camshaft all 360 degrees? Bottom of the lifter? And last, cut open the oil filter and check for metal in the pleats. You have some of the best engine builders here. It's kind of wierd that only 1 adjuster failed or is having a wear problem like that. I hope it is just poor hardening treatment. 1 small note, Comp cams doesn't make those adjusters, they are out sourced. Hope motor is OK. Rick L.

[bartlett]

rick, I cut open the filter and didnt see anything in there. I also indicated the spring with the replacement adjuster on it and it came out fine. that one adjuster is not the only one showing wear, I have about 4 showing wear. just not Bad like the one posted.  I drove it 50 miles saturday and its running great and no signs of problems and the oil psi has not changed at all. I'm just going to run it and see if it's all good.  I upgraded to smith brothers pushrods and smith's adjusters. I plan on changing to T-D rockers when I get some free cash.