Pushrods still spinning after torquing down rocker arms

jonas454 said:

I let them in assembly lube for about 8-10 hours

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That doesn't pump them up. @Schurkey has a pic floating around where he pumps some oil or ATF in the side by force.

Oil pump can, high school Auto tech class.

GoToGuy said:

Are you actually applying a torque specification to the rocker arms or with the piston at TDC tightening the nut till the play is gone , then apply a half or a quarter turn to preload?
Don't use slang, it doesn't have the same definition across the world.

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I tightened evere rocker to zero lash and then I turn the motor according to tighten the nuts on the rocker 3/4 of a turn

Just as a point of info, the rockers in that engine are non-adjustable, so the bolts do simply torque down to spec. But following the factory service manual procedure is highly recommended and you can find the link to free downloads of them at the top of the Engine forum here, in the "sticky" posts.

Why were the lifters replaced? We can assume valvetrain noise, or did you actually have lifter failure? Miles on the engine?

Richard

jonas454 said:

I dropped my new lifters in assembly libe for about 8 hours. I just installed them and put in new pushrods. I am now in the process of doing the rocker arms. I turn the engine till one of the lifters is at the highest point and torque the other one down till the pushrods don't spin. But exactly that isn't happening. I can still turn the pushrods even when I used akt of power to torque the rocker arm down. Then I got the idea to use the old lifters I still had. And to my surprise the pushrods don't spin when I use the old lifters. Is it because of the assembly lube ? Thanks

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Yeah,that assembly lube is really thick,pretty good chance not much got inside the lifters. Soak them in the same oil you're gonna be running in the engine. You can also use one of the pushrods to work the plungers while the lifters are in the oil bath,it will speed the priming process.

I don't trust "spinning" the pushrods. I've been able to spin a pushrod with it cranked down and the valve open. Try wiggling the pushrod instead. If you can feel any wiggle, it's not tight enough. Once the wiggle stops, tighten it another half turn.

jonas454 said:

Could you explain that more thoroughly. I'm new to all of this thank you for the quick response

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Please don't try starting the engine until you totally understand. You can and will understand for sure but, until then, don't move forward.

jonas454 said:

1999 vortec 454 in a 1999 k2500 suburban

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Unless the valvetrain has been modified, there IS NO ADJUSTMENT for lifter preload.

Mark IV big-blocks had adjustable rockers just like small-blocks. Gen 5, 6, and 7 big-blocks have "net lash" rocker system. They're torqued to spec, and the geometry is worked-out so that it automatically achieves acceptable lifter preload.

jonas454 said:

I dropped my new lifters in assembly libe for about 8 hours.

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You wasted eight hours. "Soaking" lifters does nothing useful.

jonas454 said:

I just installed them and put in new pushrods. I am now in the process of doing the rocker arms. I turn the engine till one of the lifters is at the highest point and torque the other one down till the pushrods don't spin. But exactly that isn't happening. I can still turn the pushrods even when I used akt of power to torque the rocker arm down.

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Torque the rocker bolts to spec using a torque wrench, and walk away. There is no adjustment on the stock valvetrain system.

It is possible to convert to the adjustable-style valvetrain, the easiest way is via special rocker studs and nuts. I did this on the Vortec heads I ran on my boat for a few seasons.

Supercharged111 said:

@Schurkey has a pic floating around where he pumps some oil or ATF in the side by force.

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I use ATF since it's thinner at room temp than most engine oil. Pumping them full of oil assures that the lifter can pass oil through to the pushrod seat, and allows me to verify the leakdown rate. HOWEVER, you then need to allow extra time to adjust the rockers, as the oil trapped in the lifter will need to bleed out as the lifter plunger gets preload. Failure to allow the bleed-down can result in the valves being forced open, and if the piston is at TDC, it's possible that the valve could be bent.

In the process of pumping them full of ATF, some will inevitably flow onto the side of the lifter...which is good. Make sure the lifter side has a film of lube when you drop it into the lifter bore.




Some ATF or engine oil on the roller bearing of a roller-lifter would be useful. Don't install 'em dry.

jonas454 said:

I dropped my new lifters in assembly libe for about 8 hours. I just installed them and put in new pushrods. I am now in the process of doing the rocker arms. I turn the engine till one of the lifters is at the highest point and torque the other one down till the pushrods don't spin. But exactly that isn't happening. I can still turn the pushrods even when I used akt of power to torque the rocker arm down. Then I got the idea to use the old lifters I still had. And to my surprise the pushrods don't spin when I use the old lifters. Is it because of the assembly lube ? Thanks

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I have never ever heard of soaking the lifters in assembly lube.
Soaking them in oil is normal.
Assembly lube is just grease.
It is too thick to flow into the lifter.
Assembly lube is just a type of grease that you apply to moving components in order to provide a cushion and stop metal to metal contact untill the oil pump provides oil pressure.
Im sure we will have 27 different arguments about oil soaking lifters and if you will die from doing it.
But im also pretty sure that we will agree that soaking them in assembly lube doesnt do anything.

thinger2 said:

I have never ever heard of soaking the lifters in assembly lube.
Soaking them in oil is normal.
Assembly lube is just grease.
It is too thick to flow into the lifter.
Assembly lube is just a type of grease that you apply to moving components in order to provide a cushion and stop metal to metal contact untill the oil pump provides oil pressure.
Im sure we will have 27 different arguments about oil soaking lifters and if you will die from doing it.
But im also pretty sure that we will agree that soaking them in assembly lube doesnt do anything.

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I prefer hydraulic fluid myself.