Ariel Owners Motorcycle Club

nevhunter wrote:The "cold" end float can be near zero as it increases with temperature of the alloy..Nev

If you tighten the rockeroillines to much than the rockers will stick when warm and get noisy.

Thanks for the answers, I have now found 2 rocker boxes in some parts I have
and one seems to have a spring the other a spacer both have a lot less end
float than the ones fitted so I will take the fitted ones off and have a proper
look.

Please Note I've revised that advice in my post two back. Heat still has no effect but the alloy doesn't come into it in any way so as to affect the end float. I think also there may be two different shafts one for the washer type and another for the spring fitted ones Nev

I think you are right the spring ones are from later engines.
Having read your update I may leave it alone for a few miles
then decide as by them other problems may have shown up.

Been playing with the rockers, mine seem to be adjustable,
take out the end cap/screw then loosen the banjo on the
other side and you can turn the shaft with a screwdriver
turn it in to close up the clearance out to loosen.
I will have another look tomorrow as the engine is
quite hot having been run for a good wile.

. IF there IS a thread there it should always be fully tightened as far as it can go so as to trap the thick steel washer (where fitted) The steps in diameter determine the end float and it's fixed by the machining of the shaft. I'll check the 3/8 end with some unused rocker boxes. There are slots in the large end of the rocker shaft to wind it in. I moderately tighten them. a crook thread on the acorn nut could back them out a bit and give you more end float. A thicker washer would put the rocker sideways to a different place but would not affect the end float because the washer is 3/8 dia hole. Nev

It seems likely then that who ever last put a spanner on mine did not fully
tighten the shafts, I will be having another look at is today,
Thanks for the reply.

There's NO thread at all in one I removed the shaft from. It all relies on a decent fit. Make sure the acorn nut doesn't bottom out or it all just turns. Nev

Ta Nev will check,

On mine the front rocker box seems to have a thread in the banjo union end,
by turning the shaft in, "tightening" the end float on the rocker reduces, if you
tighten it in snug the rocker moves ok but as no feelabe end float, hopefully I
will have more time to investigate tomorrow, not looked at the back inlet
one yet.