Seeking suggestions: rocker screws and nuts stuck Options

[DC_neun_vierzehn]

A kind member @cgnj sent me a spare set of 2.0 of rockers with adjuster screws and nuts. He said he put them through a parts washer before shipping them. I could not get the nuts off the screws so I hit them w/ PB Plaster Lithium Penetrating Grease and let them soak for a couple of nights. They still won't budge. WTH.

Part of the problem is I can't get a great grip on the rocker to maximize leverage, but I'm still getting a lot of muscle into it. They should be coming off with the torque I'm able to put on them. I don't get it.

Anybody ever had these adjuster screws and nuts stuck like this?

Any suggestion on how to break them free?

[brant]

A vice with the plastic soft grip added to hold the rockers

[914sgofast2]

As noted, use a soft grip vice. First put all the rockers in a small container and cover them with a 50/50 mixture of acetone and ATF and let them soak for an hour or so. Take the rocker out of the mixture and put the rocker in the soft grip vice. Put a six (6) point socket or box wrench on the nut. First give the nut a firm, short twist in the clockwise direction was if tightening the nut, and then turn the nut in the counter-clockwise direction to loosen it. The short jolt in trying to tighten the nut helps free the threads so the nut will unwind easily, at least in my experience.

Should that not work, then my final alternative is to heat the rocker and nut up with a butane torch to make them both expand, and then immediately try to loosen them. But don't overdo it with the heat or you will ruin the rocker arm's heat treating.

[Jack Standz]

Soft jawed vise or even a dowell run through the rocker arm and clamped in the vise.

Then either an impact wrench with a six point socket or a longer breaker bar (or a breaker bar with a longer pipe on it to increase leverage).

[914Sixer]

I'm backwards, put the nut in the vice and use the rocker as the lever. You should replace the nuts anyway.

[DC_neun_vierzehn]

I'm backwards, put the nut in the vice and use the rocker as the lever.

I love the idea, but I think ] textured vice jaws would damage this tiny nut (even if it could get a good enough grip on it) and soft jaws wouldn't be able to hold it in place.

But it's a good idea for future issues where the nut or bold head is bigger!

[930cabman]

impact

[porschetub]

A kind member @cgnj sent me a spare set of 2.0 of rockers with adjuster screws and nuts. He said he put them through a parts washer before shipping them. I could not get the nuts off the screws so I hit them w/ PB Plaster Lithium Penetrating Grease and let them soak for a couple of nights. They still won't budge. WTH.

Part of the problem is I can't get a great grip on the rocker to maximize leverage, but I'm still getting a lot of muscle into it. They should be coming off with the torque I'm able to put on them. I don't get it.

Anybody ever had these adjuster screws and nuts stuck like this?

Any suggestion on how to break them free?

Apply some localized heat on the nuts with them clamped carefully in a soft jaw vise ,thats what if have done in the past, when you have them off check how the nuts wind back without effort as the threads can get stretched from repeated overtightened ,if so replace them ,cheers.

[Jack Standz]

Clamp a dowel or pipe with a diameter slightly smaller that the rocker arm hole in a vise. This should hold your rocker arm without tearing it up.

Use an impact wrench or breaker bar with a 6 point socket.

Then install your new 911 style adjusters and new nuts (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[DC_neun_vierzehn]

As noted, use a soft grip vice. First put all the rockers in a small container and cover them with a 50/50 mixture of acetone and ATF and let them soak for an hour or so. Take the rocker out of the mixture and put the rocker in the soft grip vice. Put a six (6) point socket or box wrench on the nut. First give the nut a firm, short twist in the clockwise direction was if tightening the nut, and then turn the nut in the counter-clockwise direction to loosen it. The short jolt in trying to tighten the nut helps free the threads so the nut will unwind easily, at least in my experience.

Should that not work, then my final alternative is to heat the rocker and nut up with a butane torch to make them both expand, and then immediately try to loosen them. But don't overdo it with the heat or you will ruin the rocker arm's heat treating.

@914sgofast2

ATF?

Automatic Transmission Fluid?

[Shivers]

Secure in a vise, I have copper jaws but plastic, wood, aluminum or anything softer that will not collapse and let the metal jaws have their way with your part. A proper fitting closed end wrench and a rubber mallet to strike it will get them off. A little heat would make it even easier.

[Artfrombama]

If you don't have the necessary tools then by all means take the parts to a shop. Avoid heat.

[Dave_Darling]

Then install your new 911 style adjusters and new nuts (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Are there decent 911-style adjusters that fit into the later rocker arms? For many years, we had to swap over to the early rockers with the smaller-diameter adjusting lugs to fit 911 adjusters. Or try to figure out how to live with truly crappy aftermarket ones that fit but failed.

--DD