Noisy valvetrain? Rockers?

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Continentalsavoy
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Noisy valvetrain? Rockers?

#1

Post by Continentalsavoy »

Hi!
I´m new to this forum and kind of new to my Panhead as well.
Yesterday I was going to adjust my pushrods on my 48FL, thought they made a little
too much noise. I run solid lifters and aluminum pushrods.
Rear intake was a little loose, but the others I had to use both finger and thumb to roll.
All people says diffrent things about how tight they should be, but I went with the "thumb and finger"
setting on them all. Double checked them all.
When I started it up it sounded quite noisy from the rear pan, like I had a huge clearence, but it dissapeard
after like a minute.
After running it hot for ca 15 miles it sounded like good (click-clack). Back at my garage I let it idle for a while and kept on listening. The motor was real hot now and I discovered when I gave throttle and when the rpm decreased it came a loud rattle from the rear pan.
Is it possible a rocker came loose?
Any suggestion?
Would be happy for some tips or help!
Thanks
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Re: Noisy valvetrain? Rockers?

#2

Post by NightShift »

Dear Continentalsavoy,

You made a lot of guesses already, and I guess we can guess at those guesses if it helps.

Did you open up the pushrod cover when it was hot and feel its adjustment? And yank it back and forth? Just to make sure it hasn't come from together.

That would tell a lot more than we can.

'Spectful,
Continentalsavoy
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Re: Noisy valvetrain? Rockers?

#3

Post by Continentalsavoy »

Continued with the lifters/pushrods today. Noticed taht when I pulled the engine by hand, I heard a noise from the rear rocker cover just as the intake valve was to be fully open. I could kind of feel it too, holding my hand on the rocker cover. It came every turn. This was the pushrod that was looser than the others to begin with. I disembled the rod trying to feel the rocker if it was loose, but it felt steady as a rock. Put the rod back and adjusted it so I could easily spin it with one finger, like it was before, and then the noise dissapeard. But if I tightened it just a little more, the noise came back, so I set it a little looser (easy to spin with one finger).
Took the bike for a ride and worring, rattling noise was gone.
Anyone who might know what would cause it?
Still got a lot of click-clack sound, but maybe that´s the
way it has to be with solid lifters...
NightShift
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Re: Noisy valvetrain? Rockers?

#4

Post by NightShift »

Dear Continentalsavoy,

I'd pull the tappet block and replace the roller.

'Spectful.
steinauge
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Re: Noisy valvetrain? Rockers?

#5

Post by steinauge »

Nightshift is absolutely correct about checking the tappet rollers.that said I have seen a worn pushrod socket in the rocker arm produce the exact symptom you describe when talking about pushrod adjustment.Another thing that will do what you describe is the wrong pushrod(top ball too small) like if someone put an aftermarket shovel pushrod in there.DO look at\replace the tappet rollers.Roller failure is one of the most common major disasters I see happen to these engines.
Continentalsavoy
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Re: Noisy valvetrain? Rockers?

#6

Post by Continentalsavoy »

Thanks a lot for the tips!
Will I be able to feel/see if the roller is worn out, or does it require a instrument to
measure the play?
I read somewhere about replacing just the roller and not the whole tappet. Is that
recommended or should I replace the whole unit?
Any recommendations of manufacturers/brands for these?
Thanks, Continentalsavoy
steinauge
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Re: Noisy valvetrain? Rockers?

#7

Post by steinauge »

Any obvious wear or pitting on the roller track or any detectable radial movement in the roller requires replacement. If the tappet bodies are in good shape you can replace just the roller. The American or jap rollers are IME all good,anything else is not.
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Re: Noisy valvetrain? Rockers?

#8

Post by plattd »

I had a noisy pushrod caused by a little lip having formed in the rocker arm socket. It would give a little kick and a loud click as the pushrod ball stepped over the lip. Solution was to use an old pushrod with some wet/dry paper glued to the ball, run it around in the rocker socket with the rod between your hands like you are trying to light a fire the old fashioned way. Smooths away the lip, no more click. Be sure to clean the rocker thoroughly after. Worked for me. Good luck.
David
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Re: Noisy valvetrain? Rockers?

#9

Post by NightShift »

Dear David!

I know exactly what you mean.
It is the eye of the Panhead deity.

Most respectful,
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Continentalsavoy
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Re: Noisy valvetrain? Rockers?

#10

Post by Continentalsavoy »

Did pull the lifterblocks yestarday. The rollers looked and felt as good as new, feels good to know.
The rocker socket beeing damaged seems to be a possibility, as the click sound comes from the top.
As said earlier, that one pushrod was the one beeing loose to begin with, maybe it has "hammered"
the rocker socket.
Too bad the rocker cover won´t come off without pulling the head.....

Would it be harmful to run the motor with a uneven socket?

Thank You everybody for Your help!

/Continentalsavoy
Continentalsavoy
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Re: Noisy valvetrain? Rockers?

#11

Post by Continentalsavoy »

I do think that it would be a good idea to lift the head and check up on my rockerarm.
I have to get me a set of gaskets, what do You recommend?
Copper?
Blue teflon?
Silicon Firering?
Something else?

Thanks, Continentalsavoy
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Re: Noisy valvetrain? Rockers?

#12

Post by NightShift »

Dear ContinentalSavoy,

If it just the little eye in the rocker socket then maybe it would be a LOT easier to just grind the flat of the pushrod to clear it. Ink up the top of the rod and scrunch it in to the rocker to see if you can make a rubbing that tells you something.

But now that I think about it wasnt there a Shop Dope about recalling all those 1948 peened plug rocker for coming loose?
I think thats why one is brazed up in the pic.

I can't believe they ever made a copper head gasket for Panheads. That's like a girdle on a ballerina.

"Spectful
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Re: Noisy valvetrain? Rockers?

#13

Post by steinauge »

NS I believe the problem with those early rockers was that they broke more than coming loose.I wasnt there but the old fellow who used to help me a lot told me that.(He was an HD dealer through the knuck-pan period). :)
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