Flaking Rockers, the 4 stages of grief

[MongoReturns]

Hi all,

I've wondered about flaking rockers for many years, though don't think it affects my machines.  What's the problem with just letting them flake?  I can see having to use new shims eventually, but wouldn't the oil filter catch the flakes?

[yotogi]

As I understand it the flakes are the harder material that is plated to the rocker. Once that wears away, your cams would start to tear thought the softer rocker material. That would be very bad and could lead to all kinds of nasty stuff like your closers not working and all that leads to.

People Who Know Much More About Ducati's Than Me(tm), is that incorrect?

EDIT: See below. I learn-ed somephin!

[ducpainter]

Hi all,

I've wondered about flaking rockers for many years, though don't think it affects my machines.  What's the problem with just letting them flake?  I can see having to use new shims eventually, but wouldn't the oil filter catch the flakes?

Problem is when the plating wears off the rockers, the rockers wear out the cams.

[MongoReturns]

Ah.  Thanks!

[jerryz]

In 2007 i fitted 8 Nichol Megacycled openers to my S4 ,5 of the OEM ones were rubbish...flaked to death after only 5000 miles , all the closers were perfect .
Now 12,000 miles later they are all still fine . checking my valves this week at 18,000 miles .

[Desmo Demon]

Problem is when the plating wears off the rockers, the rockers wear out the cams.

And like a bike the local dealer had on the table......

The chrome flakes got to a cam bearing, the bearing seized, a belt broke, the piston smacked the two intake valves, the valves bent, the two valve guides cracked, and the piston got a couple of dings knocked into it.

Not too sure if it is true or not, but I have heard of the piston making contact with the valves just right to bend a connecting rod and damage crank bearings.

[Speeddog]

For the want of a nail, a kingdom was lost....