Rocker Lockers
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 194
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From: Minnesota
Rocker Lockers
Any have experience? Just installed them on a built 2005 88 to 103 and really no noticeable change.. I pretty much knew once i got it apart the rockers were not banging on the bolts and were snug likely a wasted effort. Oh well installed anyways and serviced the breathers at least.. upon startup had the typical lifter tap from oil change and being down for a few days..that went away after a few seconds and just the typical chatter/clatter thats always been there. All seemed nice and snug as far as push rods and rockers. No witness marks on rockers or push rods..
Last edited by ewhitefo; May 14, 2025 at 12:31 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 10,660
Likes: 7,249
From: OH
I had slight witness marks on the bolts
Installed the Lockers
No change in the T/C "tapping"
Changed weight / type and brand of oil
No change
( I`ve never understood why IF it`s the rocker shafts making the noise, why they only do it at 2400 to 2900 rpm ?? )
Installed the Lockers
No change in the T/C "tapping"
Changed weight / type and brand of oil
No change
( I`ve never understood why IF it`s the rocker shafts making the noise, why they only do it at 2400 to 2900 rpm ?? )
Last edited by eighteight; May 14, 2025 at 02:19 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 1,208
From: AZ
I was considering those lockers but as you said it doesn't always seem to help. I usually remove the oil filter before draining the oil but I'm gonna remove the drain bolt first next time to see how the breathers are holding up. If I hafta get in there I'll probably install lockers just for the helluvit.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 194
Likes: 86
From: Minnesota
I was considering those lockers but as you said it doesn't always seem to help. I usually remove the oil filter before draining the oil but I'm gonna remove the drain bolt first next time to see how the breathers are holding up. If I hafta get in there I'll probably install lockers just for the helluvit.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Brandon,Fl
When I did the cams and chest refresh my buddy had a set of Rockouts on hand and we put them in. Down here in Florida I run Spectro 25w-60 ( cross thread points ) and I don't hear a thing, motor is QUIET!!!
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: San Diego, CA
Any have experience? Just installed them on a built 2005 88 to 103 and really no noticeable change.. I pretty much knew once i got it apart the rockers were not banging on the bolts and were snug likely a wasted effort. Oh well installed anyways and serviced the breathers at least.. upon startup had the typical lifter tap from oil change and being down for a few days..that went away after a few seconds and just the typical chatter/clatter thats always been there. All seemed nice and snug as far as push rods and rockers. No witness marks on rockers or push rods..
The Rockouts were designed to solve a very specific problem... The rocker arm shafts have a relief in one end, where two of the rocker arm support bolts will hold them it in place. If those shafts are loose in the rocker arm support, they will turn back & forth with the rocker arms and tap against the top portion of the rocker arm support plate bolts (the two on the pushrod side of the engine). There will be witness marks on the shoulders of those bolts, if this issue exists in your engine.
If you inspected the rocker arm support bolts, and found no witness marks on them, then the Rockouts will not stop your noise.
Of the six Twin Cams I've owned, only one had those witness marks and the Rockouts stopped the noise. I added them to a couple other Twin Cams with some noise, but no witness marks... As I suspected, they did nothing to mitigate the noise on those engines. They don't hurt anything, so I just left them in.
The marks may be subtle, or they can be quite obvious. I suspect the total mileage and/or looseness of the shafts, will affect how obvious the marks are, and how loud the noise is.
This is what the subtle witness marks will look like on the affected bolts.
