Rocker arms

[c130]

How much clearance should there be between the rocker arm and the rocker arm shaft?
I have about 3/16th clearance on the passanger side, and it rattles bad at any engine speed.
The engine has 147,622 miles.
Thanks.

[Cowracer]

Rocker arm shaft or pushrod?

Either way, 3/16 is too much. Arms should be a slipfit on the shafts and the pushrod should be snug to the arm.

Somethings horribly wrong, methinks...

Tim

[john8662]

If you've got a lifter that has a stuck plunger then you could be seeing this situation.

Usually when you install the assembly the rockers will always be contacting the pushrod. Now, if the lifters are not pressured up, then you will be able to push the rocker and pushrod down into the lifter, and it will be springy, that's normal until the lifter is used and generates some pressure. You should be able to press down and feel the spring in the lifter, but it will immediatly come back up.

So, when you install the rocker assembly, you can physically lift the rocker tip off the pushrod the indicated measurement?

If so, bad lifter.