Triumph Repair: 1972 triumph spitfire, rocker shaft, rocker assembly

Question
HI, I removed the cylinder head and rocker arm from the car, cleaned it well and now have the head bolted down to the block.When I bolt on the rocker arm , do I have to turn the crank In order for the pushrods to mate with the rockers. It seems that the rocker arm assembly does not sit flat on the head ie the pushrods are in place in the round balls on the rockers, but the whole assembly is up off the head 1/8 inch??  Thank you in advance

Answer
Hi Wayne,

There is no position that the crankshaft and cam can be placed that all the valves will be closed thus no rocker arm opening a valve.

So it is normal to have to force some valves open as you bolt the rocker assembly down. Just be sure that all the pushrods sit into each rocker arm as you bolt it down. Also you MUST do it evenly or you can brake a rocker shaft.

This is providing that you have NOT removed the timing chain.

Howard