any idea what causes this? they have little nicks taken out on the edge. when I first put the head on I noticed a few and wondered if they were from the tooling used to install the valve springs and retainers in the head but I just pulled the cover off to check on them and noticed it got worse. I plan on picking up a set of skunk2 ti retainers tomorrow but I would like to make sure this doesn't happen to them too.

 

what RPM is your VTEC set to engage at?

 

vtec is at 4800, motor is reved to 8300. odd thing is this is only on the exhaust side of the retainers.

 

Not sure if it's related but I'm assuming something similar is happening:

https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...=retainer+wear

 

oh also Im on skunk2 tuner 2 cams btw.

 

If your LMA's are old and weak, it could be part or cause of the problem.

 

ya I actually just found that while searching. Im wondering if that is the issue with it or its just good old DH racing garbage.

 

what type of valve springs and retainers are you using?

 

DH racing full valve train (got the motor that way) on skunk2 stg2 cams. cromoly retainers.

 

I'm not familiar with his stuff at all but haven't heard much good about it. I wonder how tight the retainers fit those springs? Either way, they seem to be making contact with the VTEC rocker arm at some point so either new style LMA's or some clearancing work may be in order on those rocker arms. Maybe try PM'ing NAH2B and see what he thinks.

 

ok thank you for the help. it is much appreciated and I will most likely clearance the vtec rockers after I pm nah2b.

 

I had the same Issue on my retainers, I'm using skunk2 pro3 cams and skunk2 valve springs and retainers.
I talked to Randy (nah2b) and he said he wasn't sure what caused the issue but It might have had to do with the vtec engagement.

I've swapped out the retainers and have ran the car a few times since then but havnt checked on the new retainers. I'm starting to wonder wth is causing this problem because your vtec engagement is pretty low already, I'm kind of stumped.

I'll pull my v.c. in the next few days to see what it looks like in there...


here are some pics of what my retainers looked like...







but no wear on the rockers:

 

from what I can see it seems as if the rockers would come into direct contact with the retainers. I was wondering If my LMA's are doing their job but the ones on my intake side feel the same as the ones on the exhaust side which is weird because only the exhaust side ones are damaged.

I wonder if its safe to run them as is right now or what I would need to do to get it so I don't have this issue with my new ones.

 

What year is your head? 92-96 or from a new h22a4 motor?

 

ive seen that happen to a road race engine, high rpms for periods of time flattened the ti retainer out. I only use steel retainers now.

 

I dont know why but most aftermarket retainers tend to do that. No matter how expensive they are. I have just switched to using the oem honda ones as I have never had a problem with them. They dont chip like that.

 

They only get damaged like that when the vtec rocker hits them.. thats a problem with the LMA's and vtec being too high.

 

the are cromoly steel retainers, vtec is only at 4800 and the head is a 96 h22a4 head.

 

hmmm makes me want to check mine since i'm using crower springs/retainers. The last time I looked was when i was putting the motor back together.. Kinda makes me nervous lol granted my vtec is set at 4800 as well but i only rev to 8000

 

Again, how much mileage is on the Lma's? if they're weak at all they will allow the VTEC rocker arm to bounce around a little more and cause that. Installed height of the springs/retainers may also be an issue.

 

I have been running full type s valve train on my skunk2 stage2 cams for 15,000 miles no problem. I have two more sets if you want to buy a set ?

 

no idea on miles as I haven't owned the motor since it was bought new from honda... I just don't understand why its only happening on the exhaust side..

 

you said it was a h22a4 motor didnt you they had the springs for lmas and i havnt ever heard of any problem out of them . I would look and make sure somebody didnt put the plder lma in the new head that could cause a big problem but not sure it would cause your problem.

 

Im pretty sure iv narrowed the problem down to it being a issue with the LMA's. now that Iv thought about it for a while I realized that its always been quite noisy at idle (sounds like a valve adjustment is needed) and I figured it was due to the aftermarket valve train.


Im gonna order some of the new spring style ones from honda tomorrow. part number
14820-PCB-305 and Ill make sure to measure everything out to make sure I shim them if needed. right now my head has the older style lma's in it.

 

DH lol..

those retainers, look like my crower valvetrain did, after 4 years.