S&S roller vs non roller rocker arms
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 272
Likes: 59
From: New York
S&S roller vs non roller rocker arms
I need real experience from people who have possibly owned both sets / styles of rocker arms from S&S . which is quieter ? im running ultima roller rockers had them laying around they were brand new and cost me nothing so i slapped them in with some billet support plates i also milled the inside of the rocker box covers and havnt had any issues with them but i want to upgrade to a better quality part rather then wait till they fail and it cost me big bucks ! ive herd the s&s non rollers are really quiet but ive also herd the S&S roller rockers are quiet for a roller style . last time i asked a question similar to this i had guys who did not own either part chiming in im looking for input from people who actually own these parts respectfully !
thanks in advance and before someone says it i already exhausted the search button and i personally couldnt find a post focusing on this exact subject but if you know of one please share that link
thanks in advance and before someone says it i already exhausted the search button and i personally couldnt find a post focusing on this exact subject but if you know of one please share that link
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,773
Likes: 2,603
From: san antonio
First, you have to remember that "noise" is very subjective. What is noise to one is often pleasing to another or not even heard at all.
I have run OEM rockers, OEM roller rockers, S&S non roller rockers and currently a set of S&S roller rockers. All have been run with .600" lift geared cams so the chain noise (yup, chains make noise) was not in the mix. While there is not a big difference in noise, the non rollers are quieter and I have found the OEM rockers to be as quiet as the S&S rockers. The only reason I am running the rollers in my current 98" build was because my first cam choice was a Crane cam with .610" lift and my tuner had a set for half price, otherwise I would have run the OEM nono-rollers. However, after some dyno testing different pipes, cams and throttle bodies I landed on a set of Cyclerama 595 cams and would have run OEM non-rollers rockers with those cams. The roller noise is not bothersome to me, just different.
I have run OEM rockers, OEM roller rockers, S&S non roller rockers and currently a set of S&S roller rockers. All have been run with .600" lift geared cams so the chain noise (yup, chains make noise) was not in the mix. While there is not a big difference in noise, the non rollers are quieter and I have found the OEM rockers to be as quiet as the S&S rockers. The only reason I am running the rollers in my current 98" build was because my first cam choice was a Crane cam with .610" lift and my tuner had a set for half price, otherwise I would have run the OEM nono-rollers. However, after some dyno testing different pipes, cams and throttle bodies I landed on a set of Cyclerama 595 cams and would have run OEM non-rollers rockers with those cams. The roller noise is not bothersome to me, just different.
Last edited by djl; Jun 25, 2020 at 06:00 PM.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 272
Likes: 59
From: New York
First, you have to remember that "noise" is very subjective. What is noise to one is often pleasing to another or not even heard at all.
I have run OEM rockers, OEM roller rockers, S&S non roller rockers and currently a set of S&S roller rockers. All have been run with .600" lift geared cams so the chain noise (yup, chains make noise) was not in the mix. While there is not a big difference in noise, the non rollers are quieter and I have found the OEM rockers to be as quiet as the S&S rockers. The only reason I am running the rollers in my current 98" build was because my first cam choice was a Crane cam with .610" lift and my tuner had a set for half price, otherwise I would have run the OEM nono-rollers. However, after some dyno testing different pipes, cams and throttle bodies I landed on a set of Cyclerama 595 cams and would have run OEM non-rollers rockers with those cams. The roller noise is not bothersome to me, just different.
I have run OEM rockers, OEM roller rockers, S&S non roller rockers and currently a set of S&S roller rockers. All have been run with .600" lift geared cams so the chain noise (yup, chains make noise) was not in the mix. While there is not a big difference in noise, the non rollers are quieter and I have found the OEM rockers to be as quiet as the S&S rockers. The only reason I am running the rollers in my current 98" build was because my first cam choice was a Crane cam with .610" lift and my tuner had a set for half price, otherwise I would have run the OEM nono-rollers. However, after some dyno testing different pipes, cams and throttle bodies I landed on a set of Cyclerama 595 cams and would have run OEM non-rollers rockers with those cams. The roller noise is not bothersome to me, just different.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 272
Likes: 59
From: New York
If money wasnt a factor would you choose S&S roller or
non ? We know performance gains are debatable while roller has its own list of pros & cons Ive spoken with people who would still run the rollers Just for the lack of wear and tear to the valve train what are your thoughts in this again money isnt a factor
non ? We know performance gains are debatable while roller has its own list of pros & cons Ive spoken with people who would still run the rollers Just for the lack of wear and tear to the valve train what are your thoughts in this again money isnt a factor
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,773
Likes: 2,603
From: san antonio
I suppose money was a factor albeit not a major factor. I was debating buying S&S rollers because my first cam selection was a Crane cam with .610" lift which I thought might be marginal for OEM non-rollers: I was on the fence and undecided. Just so happened that my tuner had a set of S&S rollers that had been purchased by another customer but never picked up and he sold them to me at a deep discount; no longer on the fence. I probably would have purchased the S&S rollers anyway but since I can't say for sure, it isn't completely fair to say money was not a factor. We kept dyno testing different combinations and ended up with CR 595 cams which I would have run on OEM non-rollers and my tuner offered to "buy back" the S&S rollers since he knew I would run the CR595s with OEM rollers but already had the S&S rollers installed, so I kept them.
You are right about the .010" shims. Best to machine rockers so thicker shims can be used. I have never had any success reducing noise by shimming rocker arms. As long and lifters are functioning properly, push rods adjusted with .130"-.140" preload and support shafts are secure in the support, valve train should be quiet.
You are right about the .010" shims. Best to machine rockers so thicker shims can be used. I have never had any success reducing noise by shimming rocker arms. As long and lifters are functioning properly, push rods adjusted with .130"-.140" preload and support shafts are secure in the support, valve train should be quiet.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 272
Likes: 59
From: New York
So I went to a billet support plate - smith bros 3/8th tapper adjustable push rods Because my S&S PRs were making contact another sound to drive me nuts and now Im still getting some valve train noise that shouldnt be Occurring even with rocker lockers So Im hoping a new set of rockers and a re-adjustment will quiet things down a bit ! Have my preload cranked out to around .150 with feuling race lifters which are way better then the S&S lifters I replaces after 3 weeks lol money just being set on fire !!
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,773
Likes: 2,603
From: san antonio
Did the billet support plate have an offset; Woods and Vulcan do which moves the push rods out just a tad to eliminate contact with the tube. Not much of a fan of anything Fueling but Johnson Hy-Lifts from WFO Larry are becoming very popular and are not expensive. His 2313 series, slow leakdown with pin oiling are great lifters.
http://www.larrysmotorcyclemachine.com/lifters.html
http://www.larrysmotorcyclemachine.com/lifters.html
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 649
Likes: 22
From: Lakeland FL
Did the billet support plate have an offset; Woods and Vulcan do which moves the push rods out just a tad to eliminate contact with the tube. Not much of a fan of anything Fueling but Johnson Hy-Lifts from WFO Larry are becoming very popular and are not expensive. His 2313 series, slow leakdown with pin oiling are great lifters.
http://www.larrysmotorcyclemachine.com/lifters.html
http://www.larrysmotorcyclemachine.com/lifters.html
these are the lifters I am running and they are very quite
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2019
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From: New York
no offset I am runing hylifts in my 1250 sportster build to be completely honest the feuling race lifters have been the most solid taking into consideration I spent $800 on different various lifters all top tier! I had no intention of buying the feuling race lifters I bought there base set sent them in for testing 2 of them were slightly out of spec so I had feuling test a set of the race lifters prior to sending them out it was the only way Id accept them . S&S premiums were disappointing and had issues maintaining pressure they would bleed down almost instantly only 1 of 4 operated properly . Im not telling people to run out and purchase feuling race lifters just stating my experience when comparing the so called top tier products . Id probably I was liking what I saw with regards to gatorman lifters
Stage III
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 3
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From: vancouver canada
Rockers
I need real experience from people who have possibly owned both sets / styles of rocker arms from S&S . which is quieter ? im running ultima roller rockers had them laying around they were brand new and cost me nothing so i slapped them in with some billet support plates i also milled the inside of the rocker box covers and havnt had any issues with them but i want to upgrade to a better quality part rather then wait till they fail and it cost me big bucks ! ive herd the s&s non rollers are really quiet but ive also herd the S&S roller rockers are quiet for a roller style . last time i asked a question similar to this i had guys who did not own either part chiming in im looking for input from people who actually own these parts respectfully !
thanks in advance and before someone says it i already exhausted the search button and i personally couldnt find a post focusing on this exact subject but if you know of one please share that link
thanks in advance and before someone says it i already exhausted the search button and i personally couldnt find a post focusing on this exact subject but if you know of one please share that link