Looks like the clip for the roller above the spring let loose? What do you guys think is happening here?

 

Valve lash incorrect or the polylock came loose. Self aligning will do this at high RPM if valve train is not stable. Rocker is a bit loose, moves around at RPM and hits the end of the valve or the spring and bends the guide. Once that happens the guide cannot spin correctly and will not hold the rocker when the engine is running.

Only way to fix it is replace the bad rocker. Check the other rockers to see if any others have been bent/hit and replace. Change the oil because you might have aluminum shavings in it. Set the lash. Run the engine for a bit - whatever time you are good with - and replace oil once more. Just use cheap conventional for the short run time. Also change the filter at the same time.

The oil change might be a bit conservative but when this happened to me I noticed a shaving or two on the top of the head. Didnt want to chance it.

Better solution might be to go NSA. That is the route I took.

 

Better solution would be to go with steel, NSA rockers.

Would require hardened push rods and guide plates.

KW

 

Sadly, this happens with this kind of rocker arm. I try to avoid SA rockers for this reason.
Now is a perfect time to purchase 7/16 studs, 3/8 guide plates and chromoly pushrods.

 

I appreciate the responses guys! Motor has just under 2k miles on it. Wasn't expecting to see this at all. I will do some searching on the inputs/solutions you all have provided.

 

what headers are you running? They look nice.

 

OP

are the SA washer tabs of the RR hitting the spring retainers??

pull RR and see if there are witness marks on the retainers

if so...go NSA RR and guide plates.

Comp Pro Mag (Ultra) and ISKY guide plates would be my vote. Get .080 thick wall hardened PR

 

Sure. Not sure i am smart enough to debate merits of steel vs aluminium. NSA for me is > SA.

 

lol it wouldn't matter if you could. just don't even bother.

 

Can't see it from the picture, but does he have enough valve tip for SA rockers? Could be the rocker tip SA guides are pushing on the locks and not the valve tip.

I'd say go 7/16" stud NSA, with hardened pushrods and guideplates. That's the same route I took.

 

why I asked OP the ? about the SA washers hitting retainers...could also be hitting keepers.

10 degree locks & retainers give a little more "valve tip height" which helps SA RR clear......although I agree NSA & guide plates is the way to go. when running aftermarket springs & SA RR it is not uncommon to have clearance issues.

My $.02 if spinning motor to 6k rpm or more....go NSA RR & guide plates

 

Or have the valvetrain set up properly and buy a set of quality self alligning roller rockers instead of proforms. Crane, lunati, and harland sharp make quality rr's.

 

btw, it looks as though cyl. 1 intake and exhaust are also damaged.