Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines Reuse rockers and pushrods?

Say you have a couple engines worth of rocker arms and pushrods for a 292.
They're not in order and would be going on a different engine anyway.
Clean and inspect?
Is it safe to use them?
or just scrap them now and be done with it?

Thanks

They are not prone to wear patterns like lifters so I can't see any reason not to reuse them in any engine they will fit. Just roll the pushrodds over some glass to see if they are straight and give th3e rockers a good visual inspedction.

The rockers get mated to their balls over time, and will wear more quickly if separated. They can be checked with Prussian blue, Dykem etc. but it's a lot of work.

I can still come up with a set of rocker arms with their matching balls, and then clean and check a dozen pushrods.
Sounds good to me.
Thanks

I've lapped used rockers and balls together with diamond paste and had good results. I use a tapered mandrel to spin the ball and work the rocker over it. Clean thoroughly afterward. I've also done this with new rockers.

Some rockers will have pretty nasty grooves worn in the socket while others look much better. I interpret this to be the difference between the ball rotating while running or not. So I lap them to give the best chance for ball rotation and lower friction. That's my story anyway.

I've also done this with new rockers

True - some factory parts aren't mated as well as I like, lapping them in helps reduce "bluing" with heavy springs and prolonged idling. They used to sell "banana-grooved" balls for extra oil retention.
If you have any that are heat-discolored (blue, straw, purple) I wouldn't use them except as emergency spares. Even if they're still smooth, they may have exceeded their annealing temperature and are now too soft.