Weird wear patterns on roller rockers

[C0V3R]

I just popped my rocker covers to try and chase down what I thought might be slightly loose rockers. I had a little play around and it seems like none of them are overly loose. While I was doing that I noticed that I had some unexpected wear patterns in my proform roller rockers. It seems like the rocker is rubbing against the adjustment nuts which I dont think should be happening. Has anyone seen similar wear marks before? Is this a manufacturing fault? I am thinking maybe the castings are off or the bearings are shot somehow.

Have a look at the pics below:
http://www.302w.com/Forums/photos/sample/images/584/original.aspx
http://www.302w.com/Forums/photos/sample/images/585/original.aspx
http://www.302w.com/Forums/photos/sample/images/586/original.aspx

 

[91 HATCH]

unless those marks are from a socket you use on them it doesnt seem right

 

[C0V3R]

Definitely not socket marks as I used a ring spanner to do them up.

 

[87'GTstang]

How are the bearings in it? How many rockers look like this in all?

 

[C0V3R]

The bearings are (should be) pretty much new with less than 5000miles, why do you ask?

Quite a few rockers look like that. I'll do a count.

 

[greg251]

are those proform rockers?

 

[C0V3R]

are those proform rockers?

Yes they are

 

[C0V3R]

How are the bearings in it? How many rockers look like this in all?

About 80-90% have that sort of wear pattern. The only ones that dont seem to have either slightly less lateral play in the bearing shaft or a more centered lock nut mounting hole in the bearing shaft.

 

[thumper460]

First off... " Proform" !!
The wear is normal, the guide plates and the movement of the rocker arm will rub the sides of the rockers.. the brand you are using is just a little tight in that area! check the rocker Geometry to make sure you hitting the top of the valve correct!! check the underside of the rocker to make sure the valve springs are not rubbing the rocker, check the side movement of the push rods in the guide plates. cool??

Rockers can be a little off and the wear patterns can be normal for those rockers!! the amount of wear shown in your pix wont hurt anything.

just me.....................................

Thumper

 

[C0V3R]

I take it proform is no good then.

Would you expect the same sort of thing in a harland sharp, triflow, crane or frpp in terms of rocker wear/interference?

I get antsy thinking that they could potentially bind in an over-rev situation.

 

[thumper460]

I cant say that "I take it proform is no good then." I can say we have had issues with that brand... ME?? I would be leery of them , and IF there is question.. change them out!! I use Harland Sharps !!

Just me.......................................

Thumper

( PS the early Scorpions we had to replace on a few engine's also )

 

[87'GTstang]

I use Harland Sharps !!

Just me.......................................

What better rollers to use than the ones that created/perfected the "roller" rocker!

 

[greg251]

I have a brand new set of proforms that were junk even before I put them on. Very poor quality control on them, lot of slop in the bearings and mine had metal debris in them. I would hate to see what they looked like if I actually put them on the car. Anyway invest in a good set and you won't regret it. If those rockers happen to break which the are known to do it will cause a lot more damage them the cost of a decent set.

 

[wicked84gt350]

Proforms are sh#t ! the resaon there is so much wear is at higher rpm all the slop in the bearings comes to sight and if you have any cam in there at all it worstens the problem. what the rockers are doing is they are sloping around and causing the noise you hear. So what you should do is pull those off file them in the "G" file and get a set of trick flow crane comp or a set of scorpian rockers and adjust them and put the valve covers back on and not worry abou that problem any more. I am willing to bet that in another 5-10000 miles all those rockers will be spider cracked or cracked.

 

[C0V3R]

Thanks guys,

I've already pulled them off and gone to a backup set of steel crane roller tips till I can get a good set in there.

 

[thumper460]

cant go wrong there.. glad you did change out!!

Just me.............................

Thumper

 

[Mr Grim]

Agreed. I would have nightmares about all those little shards of aluminum dropping down into critical areas.