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Old 08-07-2011, 08:31 PM
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Default rocker arms

I had purchased summit racing roller rockers and had one break about 500 miles after installation. The push rod had actually pushed through the rocker arm and the piece of aluminum was laying in the head. Luckily there was no damage done so I put a new one on that summit sent me. I figured it was a fluke and wouldn't happen again. 3 days later I went out and was driving my car and heard a tapping noise and felt like i lost power again. Today I took off my valve covers and a different rocker arm was broken same exact way as the last time. I took them all off and put the stock rockers back on. I can't believe this happened and just wanted to know if anyone else had similar experiences with summit rockers? I am assuming the are cheap quality and my set up is too aggressive for them. I am debating on buying harland sharps or just leaving the stock rockers on. I am just worried about buying the harlands and running into the same issues. Can anyone share there experiences or opinions? I was told roller rockers add about 12 rwhp I would hate to lose that power but I am now paranoid about breaking more rockers and damaging my motor.
Old 08-07-2011, 08:39 PM
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put the stockers back on and do the comp cams trunion bearing upgrade. many people run this set up with great results.
Old 08-07-2011, 08:46 PM
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I would try returning those rockers to Summit if you have not already. I know race parts ususally don't have warranties, but Summit is pretty customer oriented.
Old 08-07-2011, 08:55 PM
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summit offered to give me another rocker for free but I refuse to run them again after 2 breaking with only 1000 miles on them. I think they would be fine with a smaller cam and less rpm.
Old 08-07-2011, 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by MTC_75vette
summit offered to give me another rocker for free but I refuse to run them again after 2 breaking with only 1000 miles on them. I think they would be fine with a smaller cam and less rpm.

Are the rollers stock ratio, 1.7:1? What cam lobes & duration are you running?
Old 08-07-2011, 09:21 PM
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Yeah they are 1.7 ratio. I am running a trex cam kit from thunder racing and was reving to 6800-7000 rpm.
Old 08-07-2011, 09:26 PM
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Originally Posted by MTC_75vette
Yeah they are 1.7 ratio. I am running a trex cam kit from thunder racing and was reving to 6800-7000 rpm.


Yah, I asked in order to check to see if it was an application issue. @ 1.7:1, it is not. Sorry, to hear about the problem. I have to agree w/ above, stock w/ the trunnion upgrade is the best solution.

Mine use the hillbilly stile trunnion upgrade; tach welded bearing retainers. The Comps are a better solution.
Old 08-07-2011, 10:00 PM
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So you think I would maybe have similar issues if I purchase the harland sharps? I see that the harlands are connected in pairs to give extra stability so I am hoping they would hold up.
Old 08-07-2011, 10:07 PM
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The cheap roller rockers do this all the time. The people selling them to you aren't gonna tell you about it though. Those blue Scorpions are the worst pieces of crap ever.
Old 08-07-2011, 11:16 PM
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Originally Posted by MTC_75vette
So you think I would maybe have similar issues if I purchase the harland sharps? I see that the harlands are connected in pairs to give extra stability so I am hoping they would hold up.

If you are dead set on roller rockers, send Tony Mamo from AFR a PM. Have seen threads where he talks about a new design that is supposed to have solved their problems.

For me, they're just not worth the cost. IMO, best thing about a roller rocker is the narrower valve stem wipe pattern on the valve tip that is possible. Just can't get that from a stocker, due to its' geometry. Up until the new roller rocker, that AFR has discussed, there also hadn't been a roller (that I've seen) that has a low inertia tip, like the stock rocker.
Old 08-14-2011, 06:13 PM
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Do you have any pictures of the breakage? Just curious. Would like to see the damage.
Old 08-14-2011, 07:16 PM
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I had a set of 1.7 Crane gold rollers with an MS4 cam and patriot 660 springs and never had a single problem! I now have a set of 1.8 gold rollers on a smaller cam and the same springs and they have been flawless.
Old 08-18-2011, 09:03 PM
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Yea I do here.

Old 08-18-2011, 09:04 PM
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both of them broke exactly the same way. I might get the harland sharps or the yella terras.




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