My Valve Rocker Arm... Fell Off

... no kidding. I am in the process of replacing the timing cover, and re-sealing the #1 and #2 oil pans. But before I put the valve cover back on, when I went to check the cam shafts to make sure there was no garbage in that area, I saw one of the valve rocker arms for cylinder #3 laying in the oil... totally laying down on it's job.

The valve spring is fine and the keepers are still in place. I'm thinking the last time there was any valve work done, the "wrencher" probably forgot to install the valve stem cap, because I could not find it laying in there with the vale rocker arm.

So here's my question: I took it all apart to (hopefully) fix the oil leak between the oil pan and the timing cover. Other than the oil leak it "seemed" to be running fine... And, since there's two exhaust valves per cylinder, would it be a crime to leave it as is?

Anyone ever had this happen before?

 

Hey, welcome, what vehicle are you talking about and what engine and any pictures of the trouble

 

I guess it would be nice to have that info... so its a 2009 2WD extended cab with a 2.7L engine.

I'll go grab a pic... give me a few

 

thats why it sounded so foreign to me. 2.7l

 

Do not leave it as it is. Repair it fully and properly if you want an engine that lasts.

Edit:


I don’t even know how that ran at all. I wouldn’t start that engine until it’s fully repaired.

 

This is my first attempt at loading a pic on this forum.

The valve rocker arm is actually for cylinder #3.

 

isent the rocker arm under the cam? how is it possiable it can come out of there?

 

If I were to move forward with trying to put it back on, is it as simple as it looks? I could lift the cam up just enough to get the rocker arm back on and them put the cam back, while keeping the timing in tact and all that.. right?

 

I'd try it and they inspect it in a couple of hundred miles to see if it happens again, then you know there is some sort or clearance issue with the fit.l

 

Yeah, I've never seen that before. I think the truck had some engine work done about a year and it looks like they just forgot to put the valve stem cap back on the valve, which is what the rocker arm sits on top of so not to damage the valve stem itself.

Still, pretty dang weird...

 

dont know if you looked but is the stem cap sitll in there somewhere?

 

I did, but I will look again. I'll definitely need one before trying to put it back together.

I'm gonna hit the hay, and won't be able to get back on it until Monday, but I will keep you all in the loop.

Coincidentally, re-sealing the timing cover and both oil pans has been a tremendously huge pain in my back-side. I was on the home-stretch with wrapping this thing up until I saw that rocker arm laying in there....

 

Looks like it wasn't assembled correctly when work was completed before. It it were then it would have been impossible for it to just pop out.

I do not think you will be able to just "lift up the Cam Shaft" as you would like to do. I don't think the timing chains will allow enough slop to accomplish that.

I wish you luck.

 

I don’t have any experience with the 2.7, but I’m guessing you need something like this and a helper. Make sure the piston is not at TDC when you open the valve. Also make sure the valve goes down when you compress the spring. If you compress the spring and the valve doesn’t move, the keepers could pop out and then you’ll have to pull the head.

 

Good thinking. That never occurred to me.

 

That’s one of those tools that has the ability to do 2 totally different things.

Make like much easier.
Or make life much harder.

In the OP’s case. It worth the chance.
But I’d have a buddy pressing on the valve stem just to be sure the valve goes down.
(Don’t use your finger. Lol)

Then hope like hell nothing flys apart.

 

If the valve cap wasn’t on before the rocker arm fell out it had to making some kind of noise. Definitely never seen that before. Check the cam lobe for any nicks.

 

Holy hell man, keep us posted!

 

Ok folks. My apologies but as soon as I got the first truck out the door, my truck ended up in the bay.

I admit, it was not my first choice but urgency dictated that I leave the rocker arm out of the engine. My rationale was thus:

- The truck was running fine with no issues other than an oil leak at the bottom of the timing cover and oil pan when it was brought in
- I would have never seen the rocker arm laying in the top of the head had I not opted to change the valve cover gasket
- The engine was serviced some time in the spring of 2019, which is when I believe the mechanic installed without the valve stem cap. Not having the valve stem cap leave a lot of play in the rocker arm... just my guess. The engine had been running fine for the past year.

So, please don't throw me to the wolves. I had to hurry that thing out of the garage. And, on the bright side, it purrs like a kitten.

That said, I do not have one of those nifty valve compressors, but I think I will begin looking for one asap.

Lord willing, this should be the end of the matter unless I get another chance to work on that vehicle.

And thank you very much for your posts and assistance. I really appreciate your input.

God Bless!