Author Topic: Rocker touching valves after rebuild  (Read 1534 times)

Offline Johny Boy

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Rocker touching valves after rebuild
« on: March 09, 2026, 09:21:36 PM »
Hi everyone, well my engine rebuild is almost done cb550
However, when I try to refit the rocker cover assembly the rocker casting is touching the valve head before the cover casting bottoms on the head in 2 positions, this is with the adjustment screw fully wound out.
I had the head skimmed,valve seats machined and new valves fitted.

Has anyone come across this before?

Any advice would be very welcome

John
CB550 (85% there)
New BSA Goldstar (my daily)
MV Agusta F4 750 Senna (Front room love affair)
BSA bantam (my constant pain in the arse)

Offline Bryanj

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Re: Rocker touching valves after rebuild
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2026, 10:27:28 PM »
Nope but cutting the seats may have let the valves come too far up, try fitting the cover with no cam fitted and see what touches

Offline Oddjob

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Re: Rocker touching valves after rebuild
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2026, 10:28:16 PM »
There are always some valves that are down on tdc.
Kids in a the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Re: Rocker touching valves after rebuild
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2026, 10:58:29 PM »
There are always some valves that are down on tdc.

Good point Ken, I guess Johny could rotate the engine and see if the high point moves to different valves or simply fit the top cover, adjust the valve clearances with a somewhat wider gap (not running the engine) to put his mind at rest on the valve seat cutting. If all valves close okay, set the correct gap and re-check.
« Last Edit: March 09, 2026, 11:19:02 PM by McCabe-Thiele (Ted) »
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Offline Johny Boy

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Re: Rocker touching valves after rebuild
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2026, 11:41:50 PM »
Thanks for this, I did not know that some valves would be open at TDC. Key point.....
Checking against the Haynes manual, the valves which are contacting are #2 exhaust and #3 inlet
If I'm reading this correctly then I have #4 on tdc on compression.

Thank you all so much, this now makes sense
I will bolt her down in the morning and let you know how I get on

Ýou guys are awesome





CB550 (85% there)
New BSA Goldstar (my daily)
MV Agusta F4 750 Senna (Front room love affair)
BSA bantam (my constant pain in the arse)

Offline Johny Boy

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Re: Rocker touching valves after rebuild
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2026, 10:55:24 PM »
Thanks again all, all sorted now, although setting the valve clearance is a pain!
Right angled slip gauges would be handy!!

Ride safe
CB550 (85% there)
New BSA Goldstar (my daily)
MV Agusta F4 750 Senna (Front room love affair)
BSA bantam (my constant pain in the arse)

Offline Oddjob

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Re: Rocker touching valves after rebuild
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2026, 11:19:42 PM »
You can buy right angled feeler gauges as it happens.
Kids in a the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

Offline Bryanj

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Re: Rocker touching valves after rebuild
« Reply #7 on: March 11, 2026, 07:10:57 AM »
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