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Author Topic: Valve rocker spring keeper- which way?  (Read 2494 times)

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Offline Scott Hamilton

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Valve rocker spring keeper- which way?
« on: September 21, 2014, 01:51:12 PM »
Here is a fun one... I found in several books including the actual ford books pictures of the 2000cc engine rocker spring keepers in 2 different positions. Wings toward the head, and Wings away from head,

Wings toward the head...


Wings away from head...


I have always installed these toward the head. Now I am discovering that in the manuals, (ford, chitons, etc..) show this both ways and I can find no verbiage describing which way they go...

Anyone have any thoughts or insight?
Yellow 72, Runabout, 2000cc, 4Spd
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Offline Pinto5.0

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Re: Valve rocker spring keeper- which way?
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2014, 07:04:22 PM »
Towards the head looks like it makes adjusting valves easier
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Offline amc49

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Re: Valve rocker spring keeper- which way?
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2014, 08:16:05 AM »
I'd be looking close at the amount of spring windup going on there, you need at least some for the part to stay put but if excessive the spring loops would break faster. I would probably go whichever way gives what looks like more clearance from valve retainer, no way do you want close there.

Offline oldkayaker

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Re: Valve rocker spring keeper- which way?
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2014, 11:30:49 AM »
The 71 Pinto Ford manual shows the wings aimed away from the cam like your second photo.  The 72, 73, and 74 Ford manuals do not have this photo.  Tried scanning it, but it got too blurry at <100kb.
Jerry J - Jupiter, Florida

Offline amc49

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Re: Valve rocker spring keeper- which way?
« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2014, 06:49:36 PM »
The way IIRC as well. I popped a couple of those springsets on a 2.3 hydraulic cam back in the day when a new valvejob had the guides a bit tight, they stuck occasionally at cold engine on exhausts when the valve heated up faster than guide around it to stick. The rocker would then start rattling and then pop off to fall loose under the cover. I got tired of spending time popping them back on, I got to where I could do it in less than five minutes stuck by side of road in traffic. The springs stopped the rockers falling off until I could yank head later to loosen up the guides a bit to stop it forever.