HarleyTechTalk

 that p/rod was definitely rubbing.
Did you run a 5/8" drill bit thru your p/rod tubes?
I always try to pull my rocker arm supports towards the cam side of the bike when tightening them down. It seems to help keep the p/rods more centered in the tubes to stop them from rubbing. I will check to see how the rocker arm tips are riding on top of the valve stem after the support is bolted down.
My rocker arm support bolts showed a different wear pattern that showed my shafts rocking back and forth.

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Ray

Yes. My tubes have been reamed to 5/8" already.  I always try the same thing by pulling my supports to the cam side hoping to get clearance. 
I just might have to try the offset supports.  I'm confused about the delkron set tho.  They say on their website that the support shafts need clearanced because the shafts move closer to the support bolt.  That's the wrong direction? Moving mine that way would make it worse.  Am I understanding that correct? I never had a offset support in my hands before.
That's what I was expecting to see on my support bolts Ray.  I'm clueless why mine looks like my bolt was spinning,

Copy and paste from Delkron website.


Made of 6061-T6 billet aluminum, doubling the strength of a die cast part. The rocker arms move out .030" so the rocker hits in the middle of the longer valve stems used on head modifications for high lift cams. Fits Twin Cam® and all Delkron Rocker Boxes. Also available in stock configurations.

Technical Specs
The D3070 requires the rocker shaft notch to be clearanced for the mounting bolt. The .030" offset moves the rocker shaft into the hole. 

The stain is most like from moisture in the oil .. Insufficient warm up,, or from the cam plate sitting in a higher moisture environment off the bike. It's not sticking there as if it did, you'd blow the filter off..  The mark in the bolt is from turning, most likely on assembly with the rocker shaft positioned or jammed to scrape the metal off the bolt.. Probably from assembly with non adjustable pushrods, possibly the exhaust was not on the base circle..  Push-rod mark from improper rocker tower alignment from the assembly.. Thrust marks on rocker tower possibly from running dry. No assembly lube.

 

Picture Post 23, where you show the Pushrod... Are they adjustable? and Can you put the Ends into a Y---------Y set up and spin to see IF center is Bent?

If it is adjustable, thread it out to about where it was set then tighten jam nut...
Spinning it then from the ends in Y------------Y or even on a flat surface will show you IF Bent...

signed.... BUBBIE

Quote from: BUBBIE on December 25, 2015, 08:29:37 AM


Picture Post 23, where you show the Pushrod... Are they adjustable? and Can you put the Ends into a Y---------Y set up and spin to see IF center is Bent?

If it is adjustable, thread it out to about where it was set then tighten jam nut...
Spinning it then from the ends in  Y------------Y or even on a flat surface will show you IF Bent...

signed.... BUBBIE

If it were bent the rub marks would be on only one side...

Quote from: Max Headflow on December 25, 2015, 07:34:05 AM
The stain is most like from moisture in the oil .. Insufficient warm up,, or from the cam plate sitting in a higher moisture environment off the bike. It's not sticking there as if it did, you'd blow the filter off..  The mark in the bolt is from turning, most likely on assembly with the rocker shaft positioned or jammed to scrape the metal off the bolt.. Probably from assembly with non adjustable pushrods, possibly the exhaust was not on the base circle..  Push-rod mark from improper rocker tower alignment from the assembly.. Thrust marks on rocker tower possibly from running dry. No assembly lube.

yep, i have rocker bolt like that. When i changed rocker arms and did not get one of the shafts in just right and yes had non adjustable s on that one. Max you are like a detective of part inspection. good call.

Good thought on a moisture stain on the plunger. Never thought about that. 
It still has some score marks on it tho, like it had a bit of grit at one point.

The rocker bolt. That's only way I see it getting that wear pattern it has.
They're adjustable rods, heavy wall smith bro non quick install.
Never installed dry for sure.
I even pump oil into rods after setting them on lifters just so I don't have lack of oil at start up.  Yeah, some of that I'm sure leaks out the bottom before adjusting them but at least they aren't dry.

I should have just replaced all the rocker components when I did the 124 build since they had the amount of mileage on them they have, not to mention they had a long life with a wood 8 cam and high spring pressures,   Wood  188 springs.