I'm replacing rocker cover and head gaskets on my 82 FXE and was wondering how bad this is, and if it needs replaced.

 

Broken on one side and its typically a single use gasket so just replace it.

 

obviously the keeper has been hitting the rocker, one or the other is wrong & needs inspection & replacement of all damaged parts

 

OK I give up... What specifically is your concern?

 

The rocker arm was rubbing the retainer and it appears the valve spring may have been rotating - if you look into the top cover you will see the rocker arm is narrow - and if would have made only a rub in one spot

could it have been the way the spring was removed before you took it apart and or the tool used to re assemble the spring and parts — maybe

picture up all of them if you have both heads off —see if everyone is doing the same thing

that type of valve spring top retainer in aluminum then coated two types of coating one being a soft almost paint like the other is a hardening < i dont believe you have this type - but they are special retainers and - are off set around .050 to allow for a longer lift performance camshaft - always with a stronger spring to take up the additional valve travel

picture up from the side so i can see the spring type as they are different then a stock spring - maybe they installed stock spring and that would or could let the valve rotate — do you know if it has a B or C cam in the engine

 

Here are some more pics. I was concerned about the spring retainer. Sorry for the confusion. This is my first Harley and I'm learning as I go.

 

Ok you do have hi pressure springs and they used the tin seals - reason the pistons have lots of carbon is the tin seals - but the travel looks a bit short to just install the rubber seals - i can see the valves keeper groove so they are offset

from what i see the the scratches on the blue retainer is only on the one i see so they did that removing or installing then learned how to do it and did not damage the others

do you know what cam is in the engine

ok on the better side you could just clean every thing well and re gasket an re install

you may not have the experience to do what a shop would do to correct some of the mistakes

 

I do not know what type of cam it has. Thanks for the info. I might take it to a local shop and see what the guy says. Thanks again!