HarleyTechTalk

Trying to ID my rocker arms, Engine is EVO, not HD, Delkron, S&S and Andrews... the rocker arms are roller rockers with needle bearing fulcrums...no ID on them anywhere, wonder if anyone as every seen something like these.... the engine was built sometime around 1992, as the numbers on the Delkron case are from that vintage... any help is appreciated..

FXR's rule

Capn

i believe crane use to make them but haven't seen them in years maybe a bearing suply could match

+1 on the Crane

measure the OD of the shafts and get the bearings to suit ?

+2 on the crane.. Unless this is a race motor, dump the needles and go with bushings..

Max

There were reported cases of large issues with those needle bearings in those.
Bushings are the way to fly.
Scott

whats puzzling is there are no marks.... don't know what the genesis of the engine is, what I do know is that it is a big bore case from Delkron, the Cyls. are S&S 3 5/8 with 9.1 compression piston, the lifters are velva touch, the cam initially was an Andrews Ev-79...now an EV-59..had straight pipes, Rivera Belt drive & Pro Clutch, the rear wheel is a solid disk, with holes drilled in the rim at the bead ( I assume for sheet metal screws)....so my guess is that somewhere in its history this bike was probably raced, also had no idiot lights, no nuetral switch, and no oil pressure switch...and no turn signals...., can anyone explain what the issue is with needle bearings vs bushings for the fulcrum bearings... I was also hoping to find out what the lift ratio mite be...thanks again to all for their time....

FXR's rule

Capn

As suggested, the rocker arms are most likely Crane from that era. There was a major issue with the use of needle bearings instead of bushes. The counterbores in either end of the rocker arm are not in line, so the needle bearings tended to get highly loaded in one point.  This caused a similar effect to walking on a soft floor with a stiletto heel, and brinelling will occur on the shaft, which flakes the surface. This is exasperated by the fact the bearings don't actually rotate, they just rock in the same position.
Also, the oil feed to the rocker arms and the valve tips is fed up through the pushrods, and the OEM bushes provide the necessary back pressure for this to be effective. The needle bearings don't provide any resistance to oil flow, so it was necessary to jam an o ring between the rocker arm and the rocker pedestal at each end. Any theoretical advantage of lower friction was then lost.
Doug at HQ designed some bushings that could convert these, and as with the OEM style, require line honing after installation. They were made by Jims, but I don't know if Jims still have them available.
Be aware that the shafts are a different diameter as well.
I never saw a Shovel or Evo motor run more than 5000 miles before these issues surfaced. Only time I saw this idea used to good effect was in a few race motors with monster cam lifts and no oiling. The shafts were drilled and had a Zerk fitting for greasing prior to each run. I think they were Strojchek arms?

I have owned Strokiek rocker arms with bearings,,,,not that great..As stated they don't rotate,,they rock...I had them bushed,,,nothing avail,,custom made..I run S&S roller rockers in everything I own,,longer bushing ,,tighter fit...Avoid the Ultima arms unless you want to rebush NEW parts...I have a set of S&S shovel rollers that are goin for sale...just sayin..
Dave

Interesting, mine have oil seals in the ends of the rockers, the fulcrum shaft is .55"...from what I have been reading will have to find some stock rockers to take their place, as there is nothing in the aftermarket to replace the needle bearings with bushings....need to figure out the ratio and make sure that the ones I replace it with have the same ratio..... thanks to all the posters that have responded...

FXR's rule

Capn

Shovel ratio is 1.43-1 to 1.5 -1....I have heard several discussions bout the true ratio...Evo is 1.625 -1 but Ultima evo is 1.675 -1
Many guys have converted to evo oiling and cam,,,there is a much better selection of evo cams...My S&S P head motor runs evo roller rockers with a shovel B grind,,,there is a little gain lift..This is done thru the Velva touch lifters and P rods...Talk to Dave at BMO (velva touch) he still has and messes with strokiet stuff..Set up a dial gauge and measure the amount of travel of the valve when rolled over...
Dave

The Jims part number for the bushings to replace the needle bearings is 17428-CCK, and is for a set of 8. You would have to check if these are still available.
The OEM rocker shafts are .554" diameter, but the shafts for the needle bearing rocker arms are a slightly different diameter (cant remember if they are bigger, smaller, or stepped).

At fiirst I thought the shafts on mine were straight, but on close checking they are stepped,,, .5525-.5530 on the ends, .550 inbetween the ends...have been able to find a few of the not stepped shafts, but no joy with the stepped version... will talk to Dave tomorrow, he has been very helpful with my questions regarding my velva touch lifter and blocks... maybe he knows something about the Crane rockers... my guess is that I will be in the market for a set of Roller rockers in the not too distant future....on close inspection which i had not done til now i see that the shafts are damaged in various ways.... so if I cannot find the bushings, then its a complete $et...LOL... aint this fun....

FXR's rule...

capn