Warning - Scorpion Rocker Failure

[MFE III]

I was tracking down some issues in my engine and discovered that 7 of my Scorpion 1.6 billet roller rockers had cracks at the roller pin. Scorpion rockers are generally regarded as top of the line and included in many crate motors; Roush, Smeding, CHP, Keith Craft,etc. A couple of my buddies checked their Roush engines and each found one or two with the same cracks.
Without hesitation Scorpion agreed to replace my entire set and the individual rockers for my buddies. The replacement rockers are beefier around the pin where the cracks surfaced.

[blykins]

I've never used Scorpion, but I've never regarded them as low quality.

Everyone has problems once in awhile....it's how they take care of it that matters. I'm glad they ponied up.

[ERA Chas]

I've seen literally thousands of Scorpion's rockers go out over 5 years and not one came back for warranty. As Brent said, a bad batch can happen to anyone.
It's how they resolve it that makes a great company and product.
And they did for you guys.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

I've seen literally thousands of Scorpion's rockers go out over 5 years and not one came back for warranty. As Brent said, a bad batch can happen to anyone.
It's how they resolve it that makes a great company and product.
And they did for you guys.

332-428 Ford FE Engine Forum: Oil etc - any advice of making a solid roller live on the street? I can recall a couple of cracked Scorpion threads like this over on the FE forum. I pay little attention to them as I have Erson's... but they're there.

[madmaxx]

When we're the original rockers made?, how many miles on them? What spring pressures?

[WildBill1965]

Mine have been noisy from day one, even contacted Roush. They had me take to race shop for readjustment, but still sounds like a 289 hi po with solids. Scorpion sold thousands of sets and most have replaced them with something better like Crane Gold or other brands. 17000+ miles on mine, but ear plugs cover up the noise. I will be checking them for the mentioned cracks, and over the winter they will be replaced with a better quality!

B i l l

[MaSnaka]

The replacements are a better quality. "The replacement rockers are beefier around the pin where the cracks surfaced." I have seen these first hand.

John

[WildBill1965]

Are they any quiter????

[Rick Parker]

Regardless of brand, some of them fail at the area where the knurled axle is secured into the rocker body. The surfaces within in the axle bore pounds out where the knurlings secure the axle. Then the axle "Walks" out of the body. These pictures of one side being cracked might reflect mis-aligned rockers, which strike the valve stem at a slight angle causing loading on one side of the rocker body. Just a thought. Look at stainless rockers.

[Silverback51]

That fracture is not where you would expect it to be considering the loading it would see in normal operation.

Are you running solid or hydraulic lifters? Do the rollers tips still rotate smoothly? Any signs that the tip roller is damaged?

[MFE III]

I agree, Scorpion did step up to the plate. No questions asked.
I'm running hydraulic rollers - don't know the spring rates.
9k on the motor - built by Smeding Performance in '07.
My two buddies that found them on their Superformance cars with Roush motors - one bought his in '07 and the other was earlier, like '05.
With the crack being only on one side and no signs of stress or dimpling on the other, I don't think there was any movement of the roller. But I think they could well have been one good thrashing or so away from failing

[ERA Chas]

Rick's point is good. Misalignment on the valve tip could do that.

[madmaxx]

Originally Posted by MFE III

I agree, Scorpion did step up to the plate. No questions asked.
I'm running hydraulic rollers - don't know the spring rates.
9k on the motor - built by Smeding Performance in '07.
My two buddies that found them on their Superformance cars with Roush motors - one bought his in '07 and the other was earlier, like '05.
With the crack being only on one side and no signs of stress or dimpling on the other, I don't think there was any movement of the roller. But I think they could well have been one good thrashing or so away from failing

Thanks for the info, should be an easy and quick check this weekend. This is why my days of owning classics and replicas are comming to an end, you just get tired of it. God bless Ford, GM,Toyota who make cars that last forever. IMHO 2007 to 2009 were bad years for aftermarket parts, that when the Chinese were buying all the raw materials!

[blykins]

Could be the cam that's noisy. Even some hydraulic rollers sound like sewing machines due to the lobe design. The Comp Xtreme Energy and XFI lobes have a bit of noise to them.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Rick's point is good. Misalignment on the valve tip could do that.

I meant cause the split in the rocker-not the noise question.

[blykins]

Right, but Wildbill was talking about how noisy his were. Rockers really shouldn't make noise unless there's lash introduced into the system....or the aforementioned fast lobes.

[Roush #1]

25K hard miles on my Scorpion rockers with no failures.

Two Big Bend Open Road Races, 10 road race track events, and over 100 quarter mile passes.

They are the first set I have owned but would not hesitate to buy them again.

Jody

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by MFE III

Scorpion rockers are generally regarded as top of the line and included in many crate motors; Roush, Smeding, CHP, Keith Craft,etc. A couple of my buddies checked their Roush engines and each found one or two with the same cracks.

I've never regarded Scorpion rockers as "top of the line." I think that kind of designation should be reserved for the old Ersons that were discontinued, T&D and Jessel.

[madmaxx]

According to the website Scorpion Rockers have a lifetime warranty.

[undy]

Originally Posted by madmaxx

According to the website Scorpion Rockers have a lifetime warranty.

Yep, when they break that's the end of their lifetime