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.


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.


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?