Special tools for Rocker Base upgrade & Lifter Replacement
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,684
Likes: 4,294
From: Northeast, NJ
If it helps.....
Access to some of the bolts on the rocker covers can be a bitch. I did my cams last summer and as part of the process swapped out the polished aluminum rocker covers for chromed. MotionPro sells this tool, or you use an allen bit for a screw driver set in conjunction with a ratcheting wrench of the same size. Put the bit through the ratcheting head of wrench and go to town. If you don't have a ratcheting head wrench, use a standard wrench that fits the bit. IIRC, those bolts take 1/4" allen. Also, I had read about using a piece of wood to push down on the rear cylinder to allow slightly better access to some of the bolts. This compresses the rubber mounts slightly and give a little better access to some of those bolts.
Access to some of the bolts on the rocker covers can be a bitch. I did my cams last summer and as part of the process swapped out the polished aluminum rocker covers for chromed. MotionPro sells this tool, or you use an allen bit for a screw driver set in conjunction with a ratcheting wrench of the same size. Put the bit through the ratcheting head of wrench and go to town. If you don't have a ratcheting head wrench, use a standard wrench that fits the bit. IIRC, those bolts take 1/4" allen. Also, I had read about using a piece of wood to push down on the rear cylinder to allow slightly better access to some of the bolts. This compresses the rubber mounts slightly and give a little better access to some of those bolts.
Last edited by rauchman; Jan 19, 2017 at 09:47 AM.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,776
Likes: 2,607
From: san antonio
I torque those bolts that cannot be reached with a torque wrench by "feel". Use whatever wrench you can get on the unreachable fasteners and tighten it until if "feels" as tight as a properly torqued fastener; never had a leak. I have changed all those fasteners to 12pt ARP fasteners and, like rauchman, use a ratcheting box end wrench to tighten those unreachable fasteners.
These are not critical fasteners. Just need to be tight enough to keep oil inside; no special tools required.
These are not critical fasteners. Just need to be tight enough to keep oil inside; no special tools required.
Last edited by djl; Jan 19, 2017 at 01:01 PM.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 164
Likes: 8
From: Colorado
Originally Posted by rauchman
If it helps.....
Access to some of the bolts on the rocker covers can be a bitch. I did my cams last summer and as part of the process swapped out the polished aluminum rocker covers for chromed. MotionPro sells this tool, or you use an allen bit for a screw driver set in conjunction with a ratcheting wrench of the same size. Put the bit through the ratcheting head of wrench and go to town. If you don't have a ratcheting head wrench, use a standard wrench that fits the bit. IIRC, those bolts take 1/4" allen. Also, I had read about using a piece of wood to push down on the rear cylinder to allow slightly better access to some of the bolts. This compresses the rubber mounts slightly and give a little better access to some of those bolts.
Access to some of the bolts on the rocker covers can be a bitch. I did my cams last summer and as part of the process swapped out the polished aluminum rocker covers for chromed. MotionPro sells this tool, or you use an allen bit for a screw driver set in conjunction with a ratcheting wrench of the same size. Put the bit through the ratcheting head of wrench and go to town. If you don't have a ratcheting head wrench, use a standard wrench that fits the bit. IIRC, those bolts take 1/4" allen. Also, I had read about using a piece of wood to push down on the rear cylinder to allow slightly better access to some of the bolts. This compresses the rubber mounts slightly and give a little better access to some of those bolts.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 341
Likes: 168
From: Vancouver
No, I've used SE adjustable rods. Adjusting the rods bleeds down the lifters.
Never had to fill new lifters with oil on initial install. Already filled with light grade oil.
Install, adjust and start.
Never had to fill new lifters with oil on initial install. Already filled with light grade oil.
Install, adjust and start.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,811
From: Centennial, CO
I put S&S standards in mine when I did the Rock Outs as well. I did not soak or pre-oil the lifters before I put them in. I had no noise at start up.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 164
Likes: 8
From: Colorado
Originally Posted by PeterV
No, I've used SE adjustable rods. Adjusting the rods bleeds down the lifters.
Never had to fill new lifters with oil on initial install. Already filled with light grade oil.
Install, adjust and start.
Never had to fill new lifters with oil on initial install. Already filled with light grade oil.
Install, adjust and start.
Originally Posted by QC
I put S&S standards in mine when I did the Rock Outs as well. I did not soak or pre-oil the lifters before I put them in. I had no noise at start up.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 92
From: ny
What's your opinion on the rock nuts? Are they worth the time doing?