Valve spring sitting on top locator?
 

Noticed a faint valvetrain tick the last couple hours of running this fall. Finally pulled valve covers to investigate. Everything looking fine until I saw this.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5df6496d95.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...3431bc0a95.jpg
Nothing broken or out of spec. Rocker, pushrod, lifter all ok. All other cylinders are fine. This moved out on top of locator while running.

Anyone ever seen this before?

Is there a inner spring locator missing ? Also on the roller tip of the rocker the pin looks like its working its way out.

That pin might just be normal placement. Some of my rockers look similar.

Valve float? I would test the springs.

First thing I would check. Never seen that before. But that would be a lot of float. I can't picture what would make it move off center.

Also check the installed height, When you pull the rocker look at the ends of the pushrod carefully and the seat in the rocker. Take a close up of the valve tip. Actually look at it with a magnifying glass. If it looks like someone has been beating on it with a little tiny ball peen hammer that is float for sure.

Leak down or compression test on that cylinder and check the valve height. Valve may be tuliping and ready to break the head off. Or it was installed that way and no one saw it until you went investigating the tick

Thanks for all replies. Locators are Comp 4779-8. Springs are Comp 911-16. Locators are 1.568" inside dia. Springs are 1.524" outer dia. Rocker pins at roller tip all look that way. Pic angle may be misleading.

I have all records of IH when I built the engine two years ago. I believe they were around 1.865" IH and 140lbs seat psi. This is a baby cam 496 230/238 .530" lift that maybe saw 5200rpms WOT.
I compression tested cylinders when winterizing this fall and this cyl in question is just like the others.

Here is a build pic of same spring showing it fully seated in pocket. Farthest right spring.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...772fe4b6d0.jpg

Plan is to pull spring, rocker, pushrod and closeup check. Test valvespring psi and IH. Go from there. I'll report back.

Push rod guide plates look to be off center.

Those springs are pretty light. 122/309 lbs
It might be valve float.

What's the open pressure of the spring?

I agree unless for a stock cam. I had those in a build years ago and tossed them. Wasn’t much more than a 420 cam.

Definitely check the installed height on all and compare as unlimited mentioned. Even with the light pressure a seat could still go out or get driven up in the head resulting in even much less pressure to allow the spring to flop around.

Looked back at build sheet. 1.865" IH and average 140-142 closed psi. 338-340psi open. Will report back in a few days once I get time to take apart and test. Thanks for help guys.

I spoke to my head guy (JimV) tonight about this.
Conversation...
Jim: Probably from valve float and asked if an inner spring was broken.
Me: No broken inner spring
Jim: Weak springs.
Me: Springs are Comp 911 120/309 (140/338)
Jim: Hydraulic Flat tappet in a 496?
Me: Hydraulic Roller
Jim: Those are light on pressure
I showed him a pic of the spring out of location
Jim: Why is he using spring cups and not locators? Locators are to center the spring to the valve guide.
FWIW

The 911 spring does not have an "inner" spring. It is a single spring with a damper. Not much more than a stock BBC spring. Certainly not what i would use on a Hydraulic Roller. What does Comp call for on your cam ? They usually want at least 130 seat and close to 400 open.

That would make sense. It was a quick conversation.

Thanks again for the help. Valve float and weak springs it is.
Comp actually recommends the 911 spring for their smaller hyd roller 8.1 grinds. The 924 and 930 for the XM284HR which is pretty close to my cam.
I called CamMotion about my grind and they rec'd 145-160 seat and 360-390 open.

Need to look a lil more but the Comp 929 looks to fit my needs nicely. I believe it was also the stock valve spring on Merc's 500EFI.

What heads do you have?

Stock 496HO 8.1 heads.

I thought you had the whole Raylar package...?

Nope. 525HO kit minus heads.

929's should be a nice spring for your application.

I never run less than 200# spring pressure. My valve train has always been rock solid.
currently :

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...763699aeb1.jpg

Ryan, For my Whipple build using the stock heads and Raylar rockers, Larry @ Raylar had my machinist go with Comp 978 springs FYI. It's a dual spring and a little stiffer than your 911s. I'm running his milder blower cam which has .562 lift

Appreciate the info.

Pulled everything apart yesterday. Measured IH. Still at 1.865" across the board. Tested spring psi. After 52 hours run time, 125 closed and 322 open.

I can shim current spring .090" for 151 closed and 349 open. That will give me .060" before CB. Though it's still kinda on the low side of psi recommended.

Ordered Comp 929 kit. At my IH, it will be around 150 closed and 385 open.

Check the valve guide see if its worn from side load of spring. Thats not from valve float it was probably put together that way.