Topic: 550K1 Upgraded Cam Cover, Rocker Arm ??'s

[Popwood]

My old cam cover was showing wear with "eggcentrick" holes at the rocker shaft ends. I have a late '76 replacement cover that came with rocker arms installed. My 550 is low miles, just over 11,000. I have no idea how many miles the rocker arms on the replacement have seen. I can say that wear looks pretty even but two of the cam followers have just a little bit of pitting on the faces.

Two of the faces on the original cam followers show the uneven wear associated with the out of round shaft holes. Question is, should I remove the good rockers from the original cover and swap those for the suspect rockers on the replacement. Seems like the good faces on the original are all nicely matched to the cam, whereas the replacement rockers may not be as good a match.

What's the best practice in this situation. And just how hard do you have to smack those shaft cotters on the newer cover in order to remove the shafts and switch out the rockers? I tried knocking one out using a hardwood dowel on the treaded end hitting it with a hammer. Didn't budge after a few hits that were less than full force.

Thanks.

[db22]

OK, here's what I did, and I'm no mechanic -- when I became aware of the early-550 rockerbox issue, I bought a late-'76 rockerbox complete for my '75, and simply switched them.  I didn't give any thought to the mating surfaces' possible uneven wear, but just trusted that the newer parts would wear-in and mate as they should.  The improvement was immediate -- quieter and smoother.  That was two years ago, and the engine runs as smoothly now as it did the day I swapped the old cover for the newer one.  I have another '75 in the rebuilding stage now, and hope to have the same good result with a 1977 rockerbox I found.

Maybe it was just beginner's luck, or maybe the slightly uneven surfaces smooth themselves out with use.

[Popwood]

Thanks, db22. Perhaps I'll do just as you did. Thing is, the two cam followers that have ever so little pitting (maybe 2 or 3 per cent) of the faces could be replaced by removing just one rocker shaft, then replaced with rockers from the original cam cover set up. I tried again to get the tapered shaft stay to budge but it wouldn't move at all. I'm reluctant to hit it harder.

Hopefully, someone might throw in here with some more advice.

[db22]

I didn't have any pitting on my rocker arms, but the slightly uneven wear was visible.  Need a more knowledgeable hand to weigh in here.  Two Tired seems to be the chief 550 guru on the forum, but there are many who will know the answers.

[Blackfin5]

I am having the same problem with knocking out :the rocker shaft "split" bolts.  I used a heat gun hoping to expand the aluminum case, but with no luck.  I do not dare strike the threaded ends any harder.  I put the nuts on the ends of the threads to provide more of a surface striking area but still starting to damage the threads.  What's the trick??