Hi everyone. I am trying to get my rocker shafts out of the supports (later style supports secured by two long bolts) and they will not budge. Have soaked them overnight but no luck as yet. Any suggestions please?
Cheers, Ken
Rockers
Re: Rockers
There are a couple of ways -
Hammer and brass drift, holding the pedestal in a vice, is the method I've used previously. But the drift has to be almost the same diameter as the shaft. If the shafts are sludged up, they can be quite difficult to remove. Or use a press, with a socket of the right size as a drift. Or a two-jaw gear puller.
Another way is to heat the pedestal gently with a gas torch. Once the pedestal expands with the heat, it'll be easier to remove the shaft.
Rob
Hammer and brass drift, holding the pedestal in a vice, is the method I've used previously. But the drift has to be almost the same diameter as the shaft. If the shafts are sludged up, they can be quite difficult to remove. Or use a press, with a socket of the right size as a drift. Or a two-jaw gear puller.
Another way is to heat the pedestal gently with a gas torch. Once the pedestal expands with the heat, it'll be easier to remove the shaft.
Rob
Re: Rockers
Thanks Rob. They are stubbornly resisting my efforts to disassemble. They’re for a reconditioned L series grey and I am trying to replace earlier style supports that use one long and one short bolt. I have two supports that are cracked at the base where the short bolt attaches the support to the head. Very noisy tappets during warm-up alerted me to the problem. I have bought four of the later version rockers to cannibalise the supports but all of them do not want to come apart. 
Re: Rockers
You can only replace the short/long bolt rocker gear with the long/long bolt rocker gear as whole assemblies. The shafts are different, the pedestals are different, the method of location of the shafts in the pedestals is different. Don't try to put the later pedestals on the early shafts, for example.
The rocker arms themselves will interchange, with the proviso that they are the ones with the oil hole on top, rather than the early, early type with the oil hole right near the adjuster nut. The oil feed fitting for your rocker gear - is it the hexagonal style, or is it the weirdo tapered fitting complete with cups and springs that fly apart when you try to remove the rocker gear? Because the latter is the early, early type of rocker gear. These rocker shafts are different yet again . . .
I've got a few of the early style pedestals if you want to replace them only. Must be an early L-series motor, 'cause it was part-way through FE production that the long/long bolt rocker gear appeared.
Rob
The rocker arms themselves will interchange, with the proviso that they are the ones with the oil hole on top, rather than the early, early type with the oil hole right near the adjuster nut. The oil feed fitting for your rocker gear - is it the hexagonal style, or is it the weirdo tapered fitting complete with cups and springs that fly apart when you try to remove the rocker gear? Because the latter is the early, early type of rocker gear. These rocker shafts are different yet again . . .
I've got a few of the early style pedestals if you want to replace them only. Must be an early L-series motor, 'cause it was part-way through FE production that the long/long bolt rocker gear appeared.
Rob
Re: Rockers
. . . and make absolutely sure that you have no sticking valves. While you're at it, check that your pushrods are perfectly straight and also that your cam followers do not have chunks taken out of the skirts. Bent pushrods and damaged cam followers are the tell-tale indication of stuck valves. This condition will instantly break the early rocker pedestals.
And also, check that you have adequate clearance between the valve spring caps and valve guides at full lift. Look at the witness marks on the valve stems to confirm. Because if the valve spring caps contact the valve guides, you will break your rocker gear.
In defense of the early-style rocker gear - I've driven my FX for about 120000 miles without valvetrain problems.
Rob
And also, check that you have adequate clearance between the valve spring caps and valve guides at full lift. Look at the witness marks on the valve stems to confirm. Because if the valve spring caps contact the valve guides, you will break your rocker gear.
In defense of the early-style rocker gear - I've driven my FX for about 120000 miles without valvetrain problems.
Rob
Re: Rockers
Thanks Rob. That’s really helpful. After reading your post I’ve decided that it may be better to simply rebuild the later style rockers. Seems the better option. And yes, it has the hexagonal fitting. The engine is a July 1957 build.
Thanks again. Much appreciated.
Thanks again. Much appreciated.