Rocker Rebuild

[DaveAus]

Howdy,

I noticed last night there is a considerable amount of up and down movement in my springer rockers on the UL.

I'm going to buy a rebuild kit and replace the pins and bushes.

It doesn't say much in the manual so I thought I'd ask for any tips or tricks.

Thanks
Dave

[Sarge]

Not much to it: press out the old bushings and press in the new. Watch that the grease passages reasonably line up. I've never honed the bushings to a particular tolerance, or anything; but they're not critical, like inside the engine would be. The new should allow the springer to bolt up with closer tolerances than the old, worn-out bushings by design, and keep it greased and they'll last "years," again. Pretty simple, overall.

[DaveAus]

Thanks Sarge, I just wanted to make sure the pins didn't need to be tightened to a certain tolerance or anything like that.

Looks like Im ready to go.

Dave

[Bigincher]

Dave, you probably already know this, but Colony makes a very nice rocker rebuild kit. I got one to rebuild the rockers on the springer on my old chopper, the '59 knuck. (Or is that a '41 Panhead...?)

[DaveAus]

Thanks Bigincher, I'm onto the Colony kits and I'm going to buy the bush removal tool too.

I started last night and I can't for the life of me get the big bolt out of the end of the front part of the rocker to enable me to remove the front pin.

Dave

[38knuckle]

Dave, brace up the rocker, apply some kroil. get it to move, and then the bfwh tool.

[axeric]

If you're replacing the rocker studs (which you should do) I suggest you put it in big vise and tighten on the threaded side of the stud. I use a 15/16" Craftsman open end wrench that is in good shape and on size. Penetrating oils are not going to find those threads so I usually tap the retaining bolt until it loosens up. I just did a set of crusty old rockers 2 weeks ago and there is no reason to be gentle with the old studs unless you're the sentimental type.

[DaveAus]

I'm replacing both the bushes and the pins. I've got one rocker off and the front bush is basically oval so it definitely well overdue.

I put the pin in the vice and tightened it as hard as I could and it wouldn't move. I soaked it for 2 nights and tried again an it wouldn't move. I then heated it up and tried and still no go. In the end I had to cut it off to get it apart which didn't make me happy but I had no other way!

[38knuckle]

No offense & no disrespect Dave...I had a cylinder that took 2 months to get the piston to break loose(and then all it needed was an oversized piston and rings)...paitence is the key Dave..Things will come to those that wait.

[DaveAus]

No offense taken at all. Patience is something I need to learn, the better half tells me every day!