Valve Train Rebuild | Triumph Spitfire Restoration - Part 104 

Instead of the springs, I use solid tuftrided spacers between the rocker arms, note that it is not critical that the rocker arms have to be perfectly centralized above the valves.

Those nice supportive end pedestals were developed for the Le Mans racing Spitfires, before those, on the 1147cc Spitfire, they used much weaker end pedestals, as shown in the diagram in your Haynes manual, I did a conversion on my 1147cc engine using the later pedestals that you have, also I used 1956 Standard 8 rocker arms, (also used on the Le Mans Spitfire), they were Forged Steel instead of the later, much cheaper Cast Iron Rocker Arms.

Make sure that the holes in the top of the new rockier arms go all the way through, just because parts are new, doesn't mean they are perfect!

In my experience, the adjuster nuts on the back of the rocker arms are precious, because the originals are much better-quality material than any reproductions that I have found. The repro's easily round off, whereas the originals do not.

Forward progress! I can't comment from an engine standpoint since I haven't dug into mine, but it looks like it's going back together well for you!

You might consider red loctiting that grub screw in place, so that it stays put.

Thanks. Were the original shaft's oil ports machined like this one? Springs are pretty hard and their ends can act like cutters, most other stuff has them riding on hardened washers.

Great video Steve! Two questions…how is your house so quiet, and how do you keep your manual so clean? Just kidding. I’ll pull my rocker cover and see how my arm to valve alignment is though mine is a 1500. Cheers!

Looks good to me but what do I know!! The rockers are going to float a but on the shaft hence the springs between them as long as the springs are not worn out but I say your good to go!!

No comments from me just a thumbs up 😂

Dear Steve, I am sorry to have to say this after you have had several positive comments, but surely there is something wrong when the top of most valves do not touch the rocker in its centre. Not only is the rocker designed so that it is strongest at the middle, but the way your rockers touch the valve at the of edge of the rocker, the rocker will quickly wear excessively on the new shaft you just installed, due to the force pushing down the valve not distributed evenly on the rocker shaft. I have never seen rockers on a Triumph Spitfire engine pushing the valves from anywhere but the centre of the end of the rocker. Indeed I have never seen the rockers in any overhead valve engine so misaligned as yours currently appear to be. I am sorry I cannot identify what went wrong, but if I was you, I would compare the alignment of the new rockers against the old ones as a starting point, as perhaps the replacements are not identical to the originals.