Tom's roller rockers question

I been running Tom's roller rockers for 5 years, not putting more than 5,000 miles since installed.
I had a issue with one push rod that broke in half.
It's broke right were the push rod slightly rubs in the head.
Had anyone experience this, i was thinking on using a soild push rod, but the stock ones have the ball end type that seats better in the rocker tip.
The soild ones don't have the ball type end.
Appreciate any insight. Thank you Mark

 

Looking at the pushrod, it appears like it rubbed on the pushrod casting and maybe caused the hardening temper on the pushrod to decrease from the friction.
Is it possible to enlarge (drill) the casting? Using a magnet polarized drill bit?
I've seen guys use a heavy bearing grease on the drill bit to catch/attach the casting chips onto the drill bit.

Just possible cures for your problem with out removing the head. Vet

 

To add, a second person can hold a strong vacuum cleaner nossle while you are drilling.

 

Yes that's a consideration, I thinking that mite be the best route. Thank much.

 

I'm sure Tom or someone is better versed on how close those pushrod holes are to water, but if it were me, I'd pull the heads and have them drilled on a machine. Tom may also have some tips on how to improve geometry as it sits...

 

You are NOT the only one with pushrod rubbing on the pushrod casting. But I think mine is very minor.
Check out pics.

 

I decided to open up the valley pan.
Used a vacuum and dermal tool with a straight carbide and enlarge the holes.
Worked great. Going to order new 8.250 pushrod from Centerville and back on the road. Thx 4 the insite.

 

Great news to hear. Great invention, the vacuum cleaner.
Glad all went well for you. Vet

 

Looks like your rocker, or maybe others don’t have the correct offset.
The one in your picture should have a right offset, that will center the pushrod in the hole, AND stop the wear on the buttons.
Looks like the rocker pushrod seat is in the center.
Whoever made these rockers got lazy in later years and just did the holes centered instead of the correct L/R offset as the should be.
If you want I can attach pics of the correct rockets showing the offset, and the later ones that are centered

 

Thanks, I would appreciate that very much.
Did you notice the rocker buttons, they are suppose to be round not rectangular.
Had to buy the correct buttons from TA. Vet

 

Don’t grind.
Just pack the push rod hold and the surrounding area with wheel bearing grease and then use a big enough drill bit to give you clearance and then drill down about 3/8”.
Get a regular plastic straw, cut it to 1.5” long and the slit it length wise to get it around the push rod.

once you have clearance with the straw on your good.

when your done scoop up all the grease along with the metal shavings.

 

Yes, I noticed that!
That’s from the pushrod sliding the rocker over to where the pushrod “wants” to be because there’s no offset to the pushrod seat in the rocker.
When I get out to the garage later this morning I’ll get a few pics

 

I took pics but I’m going to post them in the Small Block section.
I don’t want to high jack this thread.

 

Thank you Mark.
Had no idea that there is a RH & LH rocker arm.

Wonder where I can get some.
I'am guessing I need a RH rocker arm for the proper clearance?
This is somewhat confusing.
Or I could drill out the pushrod hold as is suggested I do using bearing grease to catch the chips.
Seems the rocker arms RH & LH are not manufactured any more? Vet

 

Thanks again Larry for correcting my pics

 

Use/buy the correct rocker arms, you’ll be good

 

Thanks Larry, I just ordered the "only" RH offset rocker arm Rock auto had left in stock.
I hope it's still in stock. Vet

 

Thanks Mark for your help.
I just told Larry that I bought the last RH rocker arm the Rock auto had in stock. Vet