Rocker studs came loose

[73 Mike]

Now what :cussing:

Put coolant in today so that I could get in a bit of a run. I have a water pump leak so will have to grind a little more off the bolts. No big deal. Go onto a side street and half way through my first burn out,

sputter, cough die.

Managed to limp home coasting for the last 100 yards.

Brakes work great by the way :goodevil:

I pulled off the valve covers since I don't like to make the same mistake twice. Passenger bank looks fine. Driver's side has three rocker studs loose. WTF ?????????

I torqued them to 65 foot pounds but they are 7/16 rather than 3/8. Should the torque be higher? Should I be using locktite? Should I just get used to adjusting my rockers every 250 yards?:suicide:

 

[TimAT]

Are you saying that the studs came loose in the head or the rocker nuts came loose? The studs into the head, I'd think 65 would be plenty, but I don't recall what the factory torque is. If the nuts backed off, then the crimp in the nuts is bad. Not uncommon at all. I keep a sack full of new ones around so if any feel like the crimp is light I just replace as needed. The studs into the head should have sealant on them, some are close, if not into the water passages. And make sure they aren't bottomed out too.

 

[73 Mike]

It was the studs in the heed comming loose. The nuts were still on the studs, though obviously no longer tight. I did not use any sealer on these.

 

[mrvette]

It was the studs in the heed comming loose. The nuts were still on the studs, though obviously no longer tight. I did not use any sealer on these.

Especially if using pushrod guide plates, I have had that happen also, I use locktite red on them, clamp them down good and never had one come loose again...

:hissyfit::crutches:

 

[big2bird]

I've seen pressed in studs pull out, but not screwed in studs. Maybe the crimp in the nut is so tight, you loosened the stud while adjusting, and didn't notice. Redo them with red locktite, and use brake cleaner first on the suds and the tapped hole. It's gotta be clean and dry first.
Are these stock studs, or Arp?

 

[73 Mike]

ARP and yes, I have guide plates. Lots of seat pressure too. Dual springs and if I recall correctly, 300 pounds when open.

I would really have to use brake cleaner on them now. Very well oiled.

So what is the consensus; Locktite or RTV? Can't really do both.

 

[big2bird]

ARP and yes, I have guide plates. Lots of seat pressure too. Dual springs and if I recall correctly, 300 pounds when open.

I would really have to use brake cleaner on them now. Very well oiled.

So what is the consensus; Locktite or RTV? Can't really do both.

RED LOCKTITEIt will seal it also/even/too.

 

[big2bird]

AND, do them all. No sense doing it three times.:suicide:

 

[73 Mike]

ARP and yes, I have guide plates. Lots of seat pressure too. Dual springs and if I recall correctly, 300 pounds when open.

I would really have to use brake cleaner on them now. Very well oiled.

So what is the consensus; Locktite or RTV? Can't really do both.

RED LOCKTITEIt will seal it also/even/too.

I didn't know that.

And yes, I planned to do them all.

 

[mrvette]

ARP and yes, I have guide plates. Lots of seat pressure too. Dual springs and if I recall correctly, 300 pounds when open.

I would really have to use brake cleaner on them now. Very well oiled.

So what is the consensus; Locktite or RTV? Can't really do both.

RED LOCKTITEIt will seal it also/even/too.

I didn't know that.

And yes, I planned to do them all.

:surrender::thumbs::smash:

 

[BRUTAL64]

ARP and yes, I have guide plates. Lots of seat pressure too. Dual springs and if I recall correctly, 300 pounds when open.

I would really have to use brake cleaner on them now. Very well oiled.

So what is the consensus; Locktite or RTV? Can't really do both.

RED LOCKTITEIt will seal it also/even/too.

So, he'll never take the studs off again?:noworry:

 

[mrvette]

ARP and yes, I have guide plates. Lots of seat pressure too. Dual springs and if I recall correctly, 300 pounds when open.

I would really have to use brake cleaner on them now. Very well oiled.

So what is the consensus; Locktite or RTV? Can't really do both.

RED LOCKTITEIt will seal it also/even/too.

So, he'll never take the studs off again?:noworry:

:rofl::sweat:

 

[73 Mike]

So, he'll never take the studs off again?:noworry:

I was ready to pin the bastards on Sunday. If the ARP studs weren't so hard to drill, I probably would have.

 

[mrvette]

So, he'll never take the studs off again?:noworry:

I was ready to pin the bastards on Sunday. If the ARP studs weren't so hard to drill, I probably would have.

ARP anything is hard as a teen age dick....GAFL on drilling them....

:suicide:

 

[73 Mike]

Quick update. I had an hour to myself tonight so I pulled off all the rockers. All but one of the studs had come loose. Some of the polylocks still had to beloosened to get them off but all of the studs came out by hand. I cleaned the holes with brake cleaner and the guide plates and studs with alcohol and then ran out of time.

I'm a little copncerned that all on one side came loose. Any practical way of checking the thread tightness or should I just ooze on the red Locktite and shut up?

 

[big2bird]

Quick update. I had an hour to myself tonight so I pulled off all the rockers. All but one of the studs had come loose. Some of the polylocks still had to beloosened to get them off but all of the studs came out by hand. I cleaned the holes with brake cleaner and the guide plates and studs with alcohol and then ran out of time.

I'm a little copncerned that all on one side came loose. Any practical way of checking the thread tightness or should I just ooze on the red Locktite and shut up?

I say ooze on, but I'm curious what our leading experts think.
Brutal. You think blue would be sufficient?

 

[MYBAD79]

Verify the guide plates are flat and parallel.... if they're bowed or bent it's like a leaf spring between the stud collar and the head surface. Could be why they come loose... if they're flat then goop it up with locktite, torque it to spec and it should be fine.

 

[mrvette]

Also watch them guide plates are getting the rocker tips centered above the valve stems......I assume you know that, but thought to mention....

kinda have to do them as a matched pair that way...

 

[BRUTAL64]

Quick update. I had an hour to myself tonight so I pulled off all the rockers. All but one of the studs had come loose. Some of the polylocks still had to beloosened to get them off but all of the studs came out by hand. I cleaned the holes with brake cleaner and the guide plates and studs with alcohol and then ran out of time.

I'm a little copncerned that all on one side came loose. Any practical way of checking the thread tightness or should I just ooze on the red Locktite and shut up?

I say ooze on, but I'm curious what our leading experts think.
Brutal. You think blue would be sufficient?

Blue is what I would use. On my Alum heads I put sealer on the studs and torqued to 40 ftlbs. Have not loosened.

If I was going to use Locktite- Blue would be it.:smash:

 

[73 Mike]

Thanks Glenn and Jeff. The heads are iron. I'll give it a shot with the blue.

I'll check the guideplates and bosses for flatness as well. Gene, they certainly were nicely centered, but I'll make sure when putting them back together.