how to remove stuck rocker arm adjusting screws?

[whackit]

Hello gang.

I need to send my rocker arms out to be reconditioned and my machinest wants them bare. I can't for the life of me get the adjusting screws out. I'm assuming they are removed by screwing them in and through the arm (foot goes out as opposed to in). Any secrets here? I'm using about as much force as I'm comfortable with but I don't want to damage any threads. I would prefer to reuse the screws as they are in decent shape and definitely don't want to screw up the rockers.

[cgarr]

The ends can get buggered up and they wont go thought the rocker. Back them all the way up then I have a thread chasing die, not a cutting die! that I run over the ends then they screw right out..

Must be he is going to bead blast them, normally I don't remove them.

[Eagledriver]

They often stretch due to over-torquing of the locking nuts. My machinist gave me a trick for this problem. Instead of screwing the adjusters in, unscrew them until the elephant's foot pops off. Then you can unscrew them all the way out. The elephant's foot pops on and off with not too much effort and no damage.

-Andy

[Hendog]

Originally Posted by Eagledriver

They often stretch due to over-torquing of the locking nuts. My machinist gave me a trick for this problem. Instead of screwing the adjusters in, unscrew them until the elephant's foot pops off. Then you can unscrew them all the way out. The elephant's foot pops on and off with not too much effort and no damage.

-Andy

I fear I may have stretched a screw or two in the past and would like to replace them. Is this truly that simple to replace?

I was considering removing the rocker shaft, pulling the rocker arm out and then turning the screw out. Eagledrivers' method could save me tons of work. Has anyone done this?

[88911coupe]

as a follow on...can you just replace the screws and feet themselves?

[Hendog]

Originally Posted by 88911coupe

as a follow on...can you just replace the screws and feet themselves?

And so that is my quest.

I can see how it would be easy enough to back the screw out and have the foot fall off as you do this. I'm afraid it might be a lot trickier to put the screw back in and then get the foot back on. It would be a tight place to work the foot onto the screw. Maybe someone has done it and has a few tips.
I just want to replace the screw since I may have stretched one or two.

[Eagledriver]

I have not tried to put a foot back on with the rocker installed but I bet it would work. The only problem I could see is that the valve may depress before enough force is reached to pop the foot back on. Not sure why you want to replace them without removing the rocker though. If the engine is not apart or being repaired for a rocker related problem, why mess with it? There is no inherent problem with a stretched rocker screw as long as you can still set the valve adjustment correctly.

-Andy

[Hendog]

Hey thanks for chiming in Andy!
The reason I would want to change it is simply because it bugs me that I likely stretched a screw or two. Especially when I read threads where guys are pi$$ed at the PO who stretched the threads. I just know it would make it easier to adjust with good clean threads. I'm not looking to sell it. You might be right though; if nothing else is wrong then maybe I should just live with it as long as I can get a good adjustment.

[KTL]

Andy's recommendation is exactly what I did (because that's what John Dougherty suggested I do when he refurb'd my rocker arms). Just back the screw all the way out and the threads easily pop the foot off with little effort. When you get the screw out, you can see how easy the foot pops back on- you can pop it on with your fingers if I recall correctly. I haven't popped any adjuster screws in a while, so I can't remember exactly (I did my top end in 2007 with cgarr's great valve guide and twin plug service)