Rocker Shifts - Push Rod at an Angle

pogolo

Heard a loud tapping when starting up my '76 2.0L FI bus with hydraulic lifters. I've had a lifter collapse before, so removed the valve cover on the loud side. I found that one of the exhaust valve push rods had slipped to the side and the top part of the rocker was striking the edge of the valve spring: the rocker had shifted to the right and was not centered. There's a hole in the push rod tube where the push rod was wearing against it at an angle.

I removed the lifter and it appears to be fine. This has happened twice to me over the last 2-3 years.

Only thing I can think is that due to not changing the oil for several months (I know, I know), the lifter got jammed with crud and did not pump up, allowing the push rod to shift. Any other ideas?

Thank you Samba.

busman78 · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:53 am Post subject:

Is the spring betwen the two rockers still there? Is it crunched or broken?

towd · Samba Member Joined: June 20, 2005 Posts: 2458

that rocker can not slide unless something is missing from the Rocker shaft ..

compare that rocker assmebly to the others. you'll find something is missing ..

pogolo · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 12:53 pm Post subject:

Yes. The spring is still there and has tension.

busdaddy · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 12:56 pm Post subject:

Hydro rocker shafts don't use springs, they should have solid spacers and thin wavy spring washers, who converted it to hydros?
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pogolo · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 1:14 pm Post subject:

Really?! Hm. Springs all round. That's how the bus came.

Anyone with pics of the solid spacers?

EZ Gruv · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 1:45 pm Post subject:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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Eric
1977 Deluxe Westfalia - 2.0L FI Type IV, Completely Original
Photographer for HotVWs, VolksWorld, AirMighty, VW Camper & Commercial, Hayburner, and more.
My Photography Page.

pogolo · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:51 pm Post subject:

Ok. Wow. So should I replace the entire rocker assembly, or just the spacer?

Thanks much for the picture. Very enlightening.

EZ Gruv · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:56 pm Post subject:

Are you sure yours are hydraulic?
_________________
Eric
1977 Deluxe Westfalia - 2.0L FI Type IV, Completely Original
Photographer for HotVWs, VolksWorld, AirMighty, VW Camper & Commercial, Hayburner, and more.
My Photography Page.

pogolo · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:22 pm Post subject:

Definitely has hydraulic lifters.

So the question is - do I need to replace the entire rocker assembly, or can I just source these solid spacers and slip them on what I have?

Thanks.

pogolo · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:30 am Post subject:

Thanks for the help everyone. I've since put everything back together and the bus is running fine.

I asked at my local shop/junkyard, Austin VeeDub. It appears that the solid rocker spacers in EZ Gruv's picture are an after-market item. I was also shown a bug catalog illustrating that it's a fairly common modification on performance bug engines, but not so much for the Type IVs.

At any rate, from what I've seen (a stock '78 hydraulic lifter engine we looked at had springs) and been told, solid rocker spacers are NOT a factory-installed item - hydraulic lifters came with spring spacers as standard.

Could be wrong and definitely open to debate! There always seems to be a lot of surprising year-to-year variation with the buses. Just hoping this helps someone out down the road.

busdaddy · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:43 am Post subject:

Time to start looking for a new shop, those guys obviously shouldn't be anywhere near a type 4.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

mattcuddy · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:47 am Post subject:

EZ Gruv · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:58 am Post subject:

busman78 · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:55 am Post subject:

Well lets split some hairs, what you refer to as "solid" VW rocker spacers really where not "solid", VW still used spring washers, better than just having the single spring but really not solid. This kit makes a set of solid rocker spacers.

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 52288

RocketRod · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:59 am Post subject:

So to butt in on this conversation......is the hyd lifter rocker shaft smaller than a regular shaft? Reason I ask is I got a set from a known used parts seller and the spring washers do not fit on the shaft. 8 spring washers, 8 solid washers & 4 spacers.
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Why Yes it is a Magic bus!
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busman78 · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:32 am Post subject:

T4 shafts were all the same diameter.

RocketRod · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:44 am Post subject:

Thanks, so the wavy washers must be too small.....now where to find some.
_________________
Why Yes it is a Magic bus!
Common Sense isn't so common.

pogolo · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 11:02 am Post subject:

Anyone with a link to a place where I can buy solid rocker spacers?

Thanks.


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