Rocker Arm Looseness

[83Blzr62]

I had a knock in my engine and took off my valve covers to check the lifters. I have the newer style rocker arms. I can move all the rocker arms side to side. Two are very loose after running. Most are pretty loose after it sits for a while. Is this normal? How do I check the clearence and how tight should they be?
Thanks,
Kyle

[Robyn]

The 6.2/6.5 have hydraulic lifters and they can bleed down slightly leaving you with a little rattle up and down.
The side to side is normal and is controled by the plastic button in the center of the rocker arm.

If its a high mile engine a set of rocker buttons would be in order with the covers off.

[john8662]

Any lifter worth it's weight should hold pressure for a while.

So you can rock the rocker arm and the lifter clicks or is springy?

It is normal for them to bleed down over time. They should stay pumped up for a couple of days.

Heck a full set of lifters I installed in an engine had been sitting wrapped up in a plasic bag for a year and all but one was still holding pressure (I couldn't with my finger push the plunger down).

But... Yes, the rocker arms should be able to move side to side a bit when that preticular rocker isn't under load (opening the valve).

J

[83Blzr62]

None of them are springy and I cannot move them up or down. However I can spin some of the push rods. Does that mean I may need longer pushrods?

[Robyn]

Nope
There are only one length for these engines.
What this means is the lifters have leaked off just a little, and being able to turn a pushrod if normal.

[83Blzr62]

Well I took the pushrods out and some are as much as .016" shorter than the others. I am going to take the longest ones out of my old engine and switch them over.