Trunnions Failing
 

So today with my valve covers off, I noticed that some of my rockers appeared to be sitting oddly. Any ideas? Appears trunnions are going bad. These are BTR trunnion upgrades with dual platinum valve springs (BTR).

Just want to know why this happens? Installation error? Bad Trunnions? Weak Springs?

Thanks in advance.

https://ibb.co/MRWc9W0
https://ibb.co/dbgTBnM
https://ibb.co/zSC9bZ4

Yes, I'd swap those out for brass bushings (C.H.E., Smith bros, etc.) That first picture looks like you have already lost some rollers. Hopefully they are still sitting on the top side of the head down in some nook or cranny. Most people go with the brass because this tends to happen with the rollers under higher spring loads.

I appreciate that! Yeah kinda of a shock to see this. I’ve noticed no issues with performance but just inspecting, wow. Avoiding a bomb here.

I’ve been sitting here reading post after post with the endless ( I mean ENDLESS! ) debate of needle bearing style vs. bushings. Something about the CHE bushings seems to be the ticket.

Yep, I run the C.H.E. Those and the Straub kit are pretty similar, and are the better quality kits per my research anyway.

I'm using the comp cams needle bearings. I wonder if this is going to happen to mine. I mean their good enough for Nascar.

On engines that are torn down after every race?

I called BTR and talked with them about why trunnions fail. Truth be told, there are too many variables to consider. Where things torqued correctly? Not enough spring pressure? Oiling issues? Etc.

I also called Comp Cams (which is what I have now) and they basically said sorry not sorry in the nicest way possible. With 40% of my trunnions failing after 2 years I’m a little upset they weren’t interested in more details but, that’s what happens when companies get too big these days. The customer service takes a hit. Brian Tooley Racing (Paul) was more than willing to talk with me for 10-15 minutes about an issue concerning me and my car. Definitely speaks volumes about them already.

Comp Cams has revised and upgraded their trunion at least three times. Does your bearing cage say made in the USA on the side or USA? I can see that you have the oil chamfers on top so they are not a first gen set. We have had issues with all of the "off shore" bearings.

Yeah clearly say USA only.

https://ibb.co/NyMfMKx

I’d highly recommend the CHE kit. It’s hard to see but did the bearing retaining clips come off?

I see the snap rings if that’s what you mean. But this is how they were installed.

The angles on the pics, I can only see one side of the rocker.

That’s all I have for the time being. Is there something I should be looking for?

No, I was just stating that it was hard to see if both retaining clips were still on the failed trunnions because I could only see one side of the rocker in each picture. Was curious to know if that may be the cause of the failures, broken retainers.