Rejected Exhaust Rocker Arms

[4945]

Aircraft Specialties Services rejected my ehaust rocker arms, saying they were illegally converted from intake to exhaust. They were the ones that were in the engine, which was last overhauled in 1960. Is it possible they're mistaken? The rocker arms are identical, except the exhaust rocker arms are drilled to allow oil to bathe the exhaust valve.

[6597]

https://www.cessna120140.com/Forum2018/ ... ers#p12573

The exhaust rockers are supposed to have the oiler holes, and the intakes are not supposed to have the oiler holes. That must have been some pretty special drilling to get the oiler holes into an intake rocker.

Todd at Smokin' Rivets has a source for the correct rockers, make sure to check your valve clearance to get the right pushrods.

[4945]

I hunted for and found four proper intake rocker arms, which I sent them, and apparently they passed and are being returned. I'm baffled why anyone would have drilled intake rocker arms, which aren't plentiful, to make them into exhaust rocker arms, which are plentiful. That's why I think they may be making a mistake.

Gary

[6643]

Are they saying that intake rockers were drilled to convert them to exhaust rockers, or that the engine was illegally converted to have (factory) exhaust rockers on the intake valves? I've heard of this being done, but can't comment on the legality of doing it.

[4945]

The person I spoke to seemed to have misunderstood what the shop guys told her. They were exhaust rockers that had been filled to make them intake rockers. I've asked them to ship the rejected rockers back to me with the parts that passed.

I may just go with all exhaust, since that's what most of these engines seem to have. Someone on the 170 Association forum posted about a Continental service letter that gave directions on using a steel rivet to fill the hole to use the exhaust rocker on the intake side, but I can't find any other mention of that service letter anywhere.

Gary.

[6597]

I had all exhaust rockers on my 0-200 and had oily lower plugs and oil dripping out of the airbox. Turns out the intake side with the holes on the rockers were allowing a fair amount of oil to drip down the intake tubes and into the airbox after shutdown. Randy Thompson knew exactly what was happening and suggested I go back to the proper rockers and all problems went away.

The proper intake rockers I found thru Todd/Smokin' Rivets had been overhauled a few times and one of them needed the .070 pushrod to make proper valve clearance hence my comment previous.

Most folks seem to think the more oil the better but I had a different experience. I think running oilers on all rockers is an old shade tree idea. The Service Bulletin I posted addressed that.

[4945]

I just checked. Smokin' Rivets went out of business at the end of December.

Gary

[6597]

steel rivet to fill the hole

Probably a round-head Type U drive screw/screw nail. I can't imagine that being legal or safe unless you can actually find that Service Letter...

Try Colorado AIrparts for intake rockers, they prolly have them.

https://coairparts.com/

[6643]

Smokin' Rivets went out of business at the end of December.

Anyone know what happened?

[4945]

There's a note on the Facebook page:
"1/5/2025. After much reflection, I have decided to close my business effective 12/31/2024. Many factors led to this decision, but the primary reasons are costs continue to rise along with ever increasing regulations, the ability to be profitable as a small aviation parts business has become nearly impossible in my experience. I want to thank each and every customer and friend that has supported us all these years--it has been so rewarding to help play a small part in keeping your aircraft airworthy, or helping you to restore one back to airworthiness. Currently, I am in the process of going thru inventory, cleaning and organizing parts, and doing the necessary paperwork to close the business down. I may have some "wholesale" parts sales later this year and will keep you posted if I decide to do that. If I do that, please note items will be sold in larger lots (batches) of parts and items will not be sold individually as I am looking to rapidly move inventory and move on to the next chapter. I will be periodically checking this account, however, for faster responses, please feel free to email me at: president@srairparts.com. That email will continue to be monitored for at least the next few months. I wish all of you a happy, healthy and prosperous and joy-filled 2025 and beyond. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your business, generosity and genuine friendship and kindess all of these past years."