Rocker arm problem

...and when I thought I was almost there,one of the rocker arms would not move for nothing. Yes,there is a bit of free "play" on all of them,but one. Not only that,the whole rocker arm assembly will not come off either.
It was hard to take it off in the first place,but nothing now. The push rods have the same lenght. Everything seems normal,but is not.Any ideas? In case you are confused, I am putting the engine back together. After putting the rocker arm assembly back,something didn't feel right.

This might or might not work. If you go through the process of adjusting the exhaust valves, step by step and cylinder by cylinder, turning the crank pulley 180 degrees at a time will allow you to do them in firing order.
I'm not suggesting a valve adjustment -- I'm just thinking that if something's out of whack, that'd be a good way to see it. If the rocker arms ain't working right, it'll be obvious.
Any help?

Lambros:

What happens when you back off the adjuster a whole lot so you have lots of clearance between the valve adjuster and the top of the valve stem (like, you can see easily between them)??

Sounds like that one is adjusted way too tight and that, alone, might force the rocker assembly to become cocked against the mounting stud and not let it become free so you could remove it.

Try backing the adjuster way out for that valve (and all the other valves on the rocker assembly, too, for that matter)and see if it all loosens up so the rocker assembly frees up. You may have to very gently tap the rocker assembly with a very small hammer to make it loosen up after the adjusters are backed off.

Thanks a lot. The rocker arm is "moveing" again.
The rocker arm assembly STILL giving me hard time. I will try again tomorrow.
Thanks again.

I'd remove and inspect the rocker arm/shaft assemblies for side play (.005" side play for the rocker arms is commonly suggested)first before adjusting.

REMOVE is the majic word. That damn thing is STUCK.
When it comes off, it will be replaced with new one.

Odd that is it stuck on the studs as everything has oil on it.
I would use some sort of hook tool that can be wrapped around the shaft and gently tap it to shock it forward alternating end to end to release it.

Lambros:

Re-read my post above. TOTALLY loosen all of the adjusters on that rocker assembly so that there is no force on any of the rocker arms.

You and Alan are right in that, because that one rocker was tight, when you tried to remove the rocker assembly that pressure probably forced the assembly to "cock" onto the mounting studs and wedge itself there, making it very hard to remove. I've even seen that force bend the rocker assy. mounting studs, from time to time, if they loosened up.

When I've had that happen, I totally back off all of the adjusters, then use a small (3-4 oz.) ball-peen hammer and tap all around the rocker assembly mounting studs to loosen it so that it can then be removed. Gently apply removal force to the rocker assembly shaft while tapping the shaft and it should let go. It might re-cock at first or for a couple of tries, but it should eventually let go and you can remove it.

Good luck!

Gordon
One of the "Speedstah Guys" from South Carolina

Gordon
Thanks for the advice. All the adjusters are loose. I used your method but nothing. I will try one more time tomorrow,if nothing happens,I will take them to the shop that did my port-polish,they may be able to help me.
From what I can see,the rocker arm assembly is not sitting even on the heads.

no joke-you need a bigger hammer. Try tapping the raised side back down onto the head in order to even it out.

I have seen the rocker spacing be off,take your pushrods out,slide the rocker shaft back on without forcing anything.If it will not slide onto the studs fairly easily take the shafts apart and adjust the shims around till it will. My rockers came with extra shims so you could put the rocker where you wanted it and have a little side clearance. Also check to make sure the bottom of the rocker is not hitting your rocker shims on the studs. Mike