RSR rocker shaft seal installation

[cowtown]

I got my RSR shaft seals from our host, and have installed them in my '77 engine (on a stand).

The rocker shaft bores in the cam housing have a thick and thin side, with the rocker in the middle. My question is: For the seals to be effective, it seems that the rocker shafts need to be installed such that one end sits about flush with the outer edge of the "thin" side of the cam housing. Positioning it like this puts both seals in the cam housing bore. But this is not quite how the Bentley describes installation. Is this right?

On my Carrera engine (where I've never touched the shafts beyond torquing them once in a while) the shafts are not so far toward the thin side in the housing.

I hope this made sense. I can post a picture tonight if it doesn't.
Thanks,
Colin

[rw7810]

As Wayne would say, "read the book". I just disassembled mine and the shafts were flush with the "thin" side.

[john walker's workshop]

thin side! maybe even a bit of the bevel on the end of the shaft poking out. 5mm allen bolt head facing inward at the end cylinders, and out of the thin boss for the center ones. just like the factory did. 18# torque, or they may come out later. toss the bentley and get wayne's book.

[cowtown]

Thanks guys. I've got Wayne's book. Between Wayne, Bentley, and Anderson, there are 3 different ways of doing it. I'll go with the JW method.

It's interesting that the respected Bay Area mechanic who did a top end on my Carrera 6 years ago did not do it like this.

[ChrisBennet]

Originally posted by cowtown
Thanks guys. I've got Wayne's book. Between Wayne, Bentley, and Anderson, there are 3 different ways of doing it. I'll go with the JW method.

It's interesting that the respected Bay Area mechanic who did a top end on my Carrera 6 years ago did not do it like this.

What did he do different? The direction of the bolts or did he have the shaft in the wrong place? Once, I positioned the shaft in the wrong place and it jammed the rocker so it was difficult to move.
-Chris

[cowtown]

The shafts were basically set up so that each end was inserted into the bore by the same amount, ignoring the "thick" and "thin" aspect of the cam housing. They are not centered with respect to the rocker itself. But since they have never leaked or given me problems, I just check the bolts every time I do the valves, and otherwise leave them alone.

[john walker's workshop]

i guess the guy didn't know as much as he should have. installed that way, they usually leak and/or come out.