Did not undo their rocker arms in the fall before putting away the boat?

I pulled my valve covers to set the lash and discovered that I had two rockers that were not all the way released having the spring compressed about half the total lift. They have been that way since October.

Should I replace them? They are brand new, top of the line Manley springs.

Sounds like a guide hanging. Are they exhausts?

No, I just did not double check and did not release them all the way.

My dumb mistake.

I have never seen a spring fail because of not backing it off over the winter. Thats not to say it can't happen. I never back them off and have never had a problem. The only way I would think it could cause a problem would be if it is a solid roller with a ton of spring pressure. Even then, I wouldn't think it would break, only lose some pressure. I wouldn't worry about it if it is a hydraulic roller or flat tappet. Eddie

Solid roller with tons of spring pressure. Ding, ding, ding. My luck.

At least they were only partially compressed. I had the adjustment nut backed off but I didn't loosen the shaft mount rocker all the way.

If they were only partially compressed, I can't imagine that you would have a problem with them. Moroso, I think, makes a tool for testing spring pressure with the spring installed on the head. It is not very accurate, but it will tell a difference between the springs if there is any. You could test them easily that way if you are worried about it. I would not be that concerned. I have done quite a few solid roller motors an have never backed off the springs over the winter and never had a problem with them. Eddie

Thanks;

Mostly worried about breakage and little pieces fornicating with other parts of the system.

I wondered if it was like the "wives tale" of putting a battery on concrete and having the charge dead the next morning.

I would go with the "wives tale" theory. Never backed anything off and never had a spring break! I leave my batteries in the boat all winter as well and it never seems to ruin them.

Arent you the fearless one

I never back my springs off but I usually try to crank motor over after a few months of sitting long enough to get oil pressure up and to re-position the pistons so one set of cylinders isn't sitting with intake valves open all winter,or just pull it out and tear it down to parade rest,put off working on it until spring then scramble to have it running again 1/2 way thru the boating season (I do that every other year ) Smitty