Club 80-90 Forums

In haynes it says that when replacing the rocker gear i need to reset the position of the engine so that piston 1 is at TDC.

If I am just replacing the seals on the pushrods do I have to reset the engine when replacing the pushrods?
Also, what does TDC mean?

One more question - if I am replacing the pushrod seals is there any other stuff in that area that I should be renewing? For example, is there a gasket inside the rocjer covers?

T.D.C means top dead centre.The piston has reached the top of its stroke on compression.Slacken the rocker arm screws for no1 untill clear of the valve stems.Turn the crankshaft anticlock wise the rotor arm moves 90 degrees for each cylinder 2 3 4 to slacken the rocker arm screws.There are replacement cork gaskets for each rocker covers.

so i can't just remove the rocker cover, then the rockers and the pushrods and replace all with new pushrod seals without turning the engine? The reason I ask is that when i do this the engine will be attached to the drive shaft and the wheels will still be attached and on the ground - how then do I turn the engine?

You can remove the rocker shafts without turning the engine.But the rocker arm position for each cylinder exhaust or inlet valve could be open or closed.This means when you attempt to undo the rocker shaft pedestal nuts the valve spring force will work against you undoing the nuts.Get each cylinder to T.D.C then undo the rocker pedestal nuts.You can turn the engine using the centre bolt in the bottom pulley on the crankshaft.Oh if you dont follow the correct procedure you could bend a push rod or damage other parts when you fit back the rockers .

cheers - will try that

skins wrote:cheers - will try that

Only try as discribed in the haynes manual.

sorry might be a stupid question but do the wheels have to be off the floor or the drive shaft disconnected before i can move the crankshaft?

If its in neutral theres no drive to the wheels from the engine.If a gear is selected and the wheels are off the ground the crank will turn them provided the hand brake is not on.Wheels on the drive it would move forward.Keep it in neutral and turn the engine with the crankshaft end pulley bolt this should present no problem.

just checked gsf and there seems to be 2 sizes of push rod seals which do i use for 1981 air cooled or do i use both? haynes does not mention large or small or if there are two seals per rod.

You need two sizes for each tube.