Well thought I was going to her all buttoned up tonight after getting my injectors hot of the bench from F1 installed and I find this:


When i pulled the #4 rocker arm the crosshead was really stuck to the socket. Couldn't figure out why until I happened to spot this crack in the rocker arm socket as I was about to re-install it. So what do you think would the crack allow all the oil to be pushed out the crack instead of the lube port in the socket depriving the crosshead and socket contacts of lube so they stuck together? Is this a part a cummins shop is likely to stock? What could of caused it to crack? Glad i caught it but it makes me wonder what else could be lurking....

 

well i guess its not actually the socket the plastic piece is more like a retainer? is that piece even that important? doesn't seem like it does much but would hate to cause a problem over a .10 part!

 

Cummins should have it,might have to buy the whole rocker though. I found one that came off the rocker when I was changing valve springs a couple years ago. Mine wasnt cracked and was able to get it back on. It was still on last time I adjusted the valves. If I find another one off Im just going to spend the extra money and get a full set of 24V rockers. No plastic crap on them, all metal.

Call this place here. They are great to deal with and most times cheaper than cummins.
http://www.mumaudiesel.com/

 

are you talking about the plastic piece that goes between the bridge and the rocker arm?

 

*** the mighty cummins and these cheap plastic pieces in the valve train? I found another cracket socket retainer on the #5 intake rocker now. Two diesel mechanics i spoke w/ said the retainers are to keep the sockets on the rocker arm ball if you float the valves from high rpms. Without them the socket can come off and take out the motor. And if the plastic piece comes off it can block oil passages, fall into the push rod holes, etc. And of course you can't replace just the socket or plastic retainer i have to buy an entire rocker arm. I really hate this truck right now after dumping all the money into the injectors i still can't get her running.

http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/y...y/IMG_7969.jpg

 

so if your not run higher that stock rpm's just through them a way and be done. i would think if you float a valve your probleby going to have more to worry about than those things anyway.

 

well i still don't get it if your valves are adjusted correctly the socket can't physically come of the rocker arm ball. so what do the plastic retainers even do really? seems to me they just hold the sockets on the rocker arm when removing or installing the rockers. so could i just ditch the cracked ones?

 

The plastic is what holds onto the knuckle on the rocker. The metal pad snaps into the plastic. On mine the pad came unseated from the plastic but was still in place. Would have never known if I hadnt removed the rockers to find the cap still sitting on the bridge. If its gonna worry you find a set of used 24V rockers or go new.

 

i know this too well! i had one break, i spent 325$ on one new rocker arm from dodge!

 

well i'm not going to give cummins a dime of my hard earned $ for this stupid design until i exhaust all options. time to think outside the box!

what do you guys think about turning out some of the plastic pieces on a lathe using some UHMW? I got a buddy who's old man is a master machinist that works for beer and i have some left over UHMW stock. Seems like it would be worth a try.

 

Bradler - excuse my ignorance but .... you say you will go get some 24V rockers. Well doesn't your 2005 already have 24V rockers? Or were the early ones made better?

 

the 24v rockers were suggested by homewrecker and its my understanding that the 2nd gen rockers do not have the plastic pieces. I also heard that the new rockers from cummins don't have them either. i'm really starting to think they are pointless!

 

The 24V vp-44 trucks had all metal, no plastic. If the new replacements from cummins for the CR have gone to all metal then thats a good thing. If not the vp rockers are a direct replacement. And the $300+ from the dealer was a rip off as usual. Probably could have got a whole new set from cummins for that price.

Bradler, whats this UHMW stuff? Sorry not up on that.

 

UHMW=Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene plastic

Well I didn't buy anything from the dealer but they did want ~$200 a rocker! Cummins price was ~$85 for intake and more for exhausts.

So just to share what i found today after calling the mechanic at source automotive, tim at TRE, browns diesel, and mamau diesel: They all said the black plastic retainers are only to hold the sockets on the rockers during factory installation. basically so the sockets don't fall into the motor during removal or installation. they do not serve a practical purpose when installed and as long as your valves are adjusted correctly (.010 intake .020 exhaust) the sockets cannot come off. So i'm taking off the cracked ones and leaving the rest alone. I will take one for team and free ball it without em and if something happens you all will be the first to know. Hope this saves someone else time and money.

 

Hello,

If the valve floated or anything else that tries to make the rocker separate from the spreader there is no way in h@ll that plastic is gonna do anything at all except crack and go into the motor.

Damon