I have bought new Valve rocker spindles from Supreme motorcycles, now Draganfly, as the old ones are badly scored. One has gone nearly in, just a further 3mm needed, the other has gone in up to the thread but I cant get the thread through. I will not damage either the thread or the oil feed pipe faces, but cannot with brass or hardwood protection push the spindles through any further. I have tried oiling and moving the springs and washers that position the rockers on the shaft In case they are fouling.
Am I missing a trick, is it often this difficult or will I need to start heating the rocker cover? If I heat, how do I stop the billet rocker cover distorting when driving the spindles home?
Is this simply a case of the spindle catching on one of the thrust washers? If so, the thrust washer in question just needs to be edged either way to let the spindle pass through the middle of it.
It is not an easy job and requires patience.
You should be able to slightly withdraw the spindle, without disturbing the other washers.
If you look through the assembly, from the other side using a flashlight, you can see which washer/spring is out of alignment.
I use a small paint-brush handle to align the holes.
Do not force it!
Thanks AWJD Thumper & Caulky
I tried the old Spindle in the rocker cover and even that needs driving home, but does get there. It is not the washers or springs just the thickest part of the shaft. I have measured the spindles the difference is old spindle measures at 14.32 mm and the new ones 14.40, the difference is only 0.08mm but enough to mean it will not drive home.
My only decision now is whether to reduce the shaft and it is probably hardened chrome, or gently increase the aperture on the rocker cover and risk the next shaft not fitting.
That's too great a difference. If the proper diameter provides a tight fit in the head, the greater diameter will produce a heavy interference fit which would require heating of the rocker cover as well as considerable force. If it was me, I would take the spindle to a machine shop and get them to grind it down to the correct diameter.