Noisey rockers

[GregL]

Hi Guys,
I have 2 or 3 clattering rockers on my '66 425. It just rolled over 100k, runs good but these ticking rockers are getting more than a little annoying. I know they're hydraulic, so not adjustable and I've heard a lot of other Oldsmobiles get this too. Just wondering if I have to replace lifters, get oversize push rods, replace rockers, ????
What do you recommend?
Thanks,
Greg

[69W34]

I have never experienced noisy rockers with hydraulic lifters, I believe it is most likely the lifters themselves ticking.

First though a quick side bar, valve adjustments with /for mechanical lifters in overhead valve motors is provided at the rocker, valve 'lash' as it is referred to is more to do with valve timing and a 'solid' direct connection from the cam to the valve, more over to provide the earliest valve opening providing full lift while allowing the valve to fully close. Hydraulic lifters can and will 'float' at some give RPM thus holding the valve open, mechanical lifters will not. When adjusting mechanical lifters the motor should be at operating temperature and can be running though not always there is a knack to it. When 'solid valve trains' are in need of adjustment they can a bit noisy but not the typical tick tick tick one will experience with hydraulic valve trains.

Ok where was I, any number of things can contribute to a noisy lifter or two, a lifter that has collapsed and will no longer sufficiently pump up, an internally warn (sloppy) lifter or an internal spring that is weak or broken, insufficient oil supply, plugged, slugged up, or sticky lifter, weak valve springs, oil weight (viscosity), and lastly a tired valve train warn from the cam right through to the valve stem and we are talking about a 100k motor.

That said it may be time to 'refresh' the motor, which does not mean its in need of a full blown rebuilt.

[Mavis]

There may be another possibility. Olds used an aluminum rocker pivot on these engines and I have seen them wear in such a fashion that the lifter cannot take up all the slack. I don't know why but sometimes just one or two will show excessive wear and the rest on a given engine will be just fine. One source for these parts is Federal Mogul/Sealed Power part # R-856. This will do one cylinder. It would be a shame to tear into an engine if this might fix the problem.

[Twilight Fenrir]

There may be another possibility. Olds used an aluminum rocker pivot on these engines and I have seen them wear in such a fashion that the lifter cannot take up all the slack. I don't know why but sometimes just one or two will show excessive wear and the rest on a given engine will be just fine. One source for these parts is Federal Mogul/Sealed Power part # R-856. This will do one cylinder. It would be a shame to tear into an engine if this might fix the problem.

I noticed that when I had popped open my valve cover to check what was wrong... and found my pivot had broken in half, and taken the stud with it... Furthermore, the lifter was in pieces! But, looking at the pivot, I was stunned by how much wear there was on the part. I thought I had the wrong replacement, because it almost looked like it was built that way.

I never did, but I probably should go back under there and remove every pivot to see how they are holding up...

[GregL]

Thanks Mavis, I think this might be what I'm looking for.
Greg

[69W34]

There may be another possibility. Olds used an aluminum rocker pivot on these engines and I have seen them wear in such a fashion that the lifter cannot take up all the slack. I don't know why but sometimes just one or two will show excessive wear and the rest on a given engine will be just fine. One source for these parts is Federal Mogul/Sealed Power part # R-856. This will do one cylinder. It would be a shame to tear into an engine if this might fix the problem.

Correct, pivots are an integral part of the valve train, though I have not seen a pivot thta was bad enough to rattle 'tick' the lifter I too have found them broken, but never a stud as in Twilight's case. I have found lifters broken (as in pieces) as well, in these cases I suspect the lifter collapsed and some how the retainer was knock out. I am aware of three styles of pivots two are cast aluminum one of which is a smooth rocker surface, the other has grooves cut into the rocker surface to aide oil distribution the other is metal pivot surface with separate metal arch.

To be clear I am not and advocate of rebuilding a motor just for the sake of rebuilding a motor!

[Schurkey]

Hi guys,

My 1967 60K car had an annoying intermittent "ticka-ticka-ticka" in the valves. I found worn pivots and rockers, slightly "dished" lifters. Also the nylon timing gear was badly cracked and worn. While none of the wear was really bad, I sort of came with a "cumulative slop" theory about the noise.

In any case, I replaced all of the above, plus new push-rods for good measure. I spent about one weekend and about 350 bucks in the process. The results were amazing, the engine is now quiet and runs smooth as glass. Definitely worth a try before ripping the engine apart.


Clyde D. Cummins TOA #56

If the lifter bottoms are dished, the camshaft is junk also. The bad camshaft will then tear up the new lifters.

All the metal particles from the lifter bottoms and the rocker pivots will be going through the bearings and lifter internals. Some will get stopped by the oil filter...some won't.