Hitchcocks Forum

Hi all ... after replacing the cylinder head of my 2003 Bullet 500 with the tuned one from our host, I have a new sound to my engine. Along with the tuned head I also replaced the oem rockers with Samrat rockers from our host. And now the question is: is it the new valves or the new rockers that makes the head so very noisy. It is a characteristic, clattering sound, and it is much more noisier than the oem setup. The pushrods are adjustet to just spin and without any other movements. I have added 4000km to the bike with this new setup... If any of you guys with tuned head or Samrat rockers can enlighten the forum with your experience on valves and/or rockers clattering in a very noisy way, please do so ... all the best Jacob

I had Samrat rockers fitted to my 500 Bullet, there was always a clattering noise; replaced them with original rockers, noise gone.

I have the tuned head and alloy rockers on my 1999 500. If anything it is quieter now. (Or maybe I can't hear it with the free flow inlet and exhaust!) I assume you are using 20/50 oil? Mine doesn't like anything lighter

I had my standard head gas flowed, new valves and guides and samrat rockers from our host, its certainly more noisey now and no doubt the original heavy steel rocker blocks dampen things down a bit, also fitted the forged piston so until things get warmed up it sounds like a bag of tin cans! Modern oils will not help 5W/40 'etc' they are not suitable for this technology use a good 20/50 or Castrol GP50 works well in the summer months. Downside of performance mods is generally more noise but if its all set up with correct clearances their should be no problem. If you changed the cams dont use the valve guide oil seals, they may restrict the lift.

Hi ... I use 15W/40 oil and there is no room for valve guide seals. The 8:1 piston has a clearence that requires a good amount of heat to get quite, but the rockers are noisy cold as well as hot. Cams are stock... Midge, do you really think oil viscocity can make a difference in the noise? I have been thinking about, if it is possible to fit the Samrat rocker arms into the stock rocker boxes. I know it requires modifications to the rocker boxes, but it must be something that can be done. In the end I will get the best out of both. Well, at least this is what I think. Has anybody tried this modification or know about the physics in this? ... Jacob

The US distributor used to do those Rocker mods (samrats in the iron blocks)years ago,not sure if he still does.Basically you need to blueprint the rockers and pushrods when fitting those Samrat's as often the ball will not fit snugly in the pushrod,it needs to contact right down on the nose of the ball.Believe it or not it's possible to do have a Bullet that does not have any clicks or taps even when hot,just a rustle of gears.
Jack.

Oils is a subject that will divide opinion. I've tried lighter ones in order to be able to use one type for all my vehicles but in my opinion the Enfield likes 20/50. Maybe I'm influenced by Mr Hitchcock, but if that's what he recommends then that's what goes in. Ultimately I suppose you need to give it a go and see which yours feels best with.

Jack .. this is usefull info. Next time top is apart, I will meassure evrything on rockers etc. for an eventual modification. In the meantime I will comtemplate on the noise and if it is acceptable. Engines do have sounds to them, and some of them are noisy. Most of them tell you how the bike is doing. Maybe even the clatter of Samrat rockers. It's just hard to get used to that one... all the best Jacob

Were the oil holes drilled out if they were the early Samrat rockers ?

To go back to the beginning I would say that if you can just spin the pushrods they are slightly loose. I reckon they should turn but with some resistance and feeling. You shouldn't be able to flick them around. In my opinion anyway.