I got a 20% off coupon from Bike Bandit on OEM parts - so I ordered some engine parts.  I ordered new intake/exhaust rocker arms to replace the damaged set that were in the 2002 bike I recently revived.

I was surprised to see that the new Suzuki replacement part was not a "one-piece" design as the original was - instead it has a separate pad brazed onto the rocker.

I looked at the Parts List and it appears this change first showed up on the 2005 models, and later ones also have this new design.  The older parts list shows the new part numbers as replacements for the earlier single piece model.

So....was this done to make them more durable?  Or was it done to make them less costly to make?  Hopefully......it was done to make them more durable.

Thinking about the consequences of one of those pads comin' unstuck gives me a serious case of the willies. My bike is an '06 so presumably that's whats in there.

oldNslow wrote on 12/07/15 at 17:42:57:

What makes you worried that it might drop off? It has hardly any wiggle room. And its probably attached pretty firmly. Hopefully its some kind of material that lasts longer than the old one piece jobs when given a low zddp diet?

I am not worried about the pads coming off.  My 4 cylinder cars have had this kind of rocker for years....and I never had any problem with them.

I am curious if any of these later rockers have been damaged the same way the earlier ones have been damaged by low ZDDP, or by idling on the side stand for extended periods.

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 12/08/15 at 06:02:02:


On the bike that worn rocker came from - both the rocker and the cam were badly worn on the uphill/exhaust side of the cam (when the bike is on the kickstand).  I don't believe it was a casting flaw - I believe it was a lack of oil problem.  I do believe this is a bit different from the ZDDP wear - which more evenly affects both rockers and cam lobes as it occurs when the bike is running down the highway.

That rocker wear in the picture has triggered the belief that extended idling on the sidestand may not properly lubricate the exhaust cam lobe.  

Wouldn't it be fun to inspect the cam/rockers of two engines, run both at idle, proper RPM, one tilted the same as on the sidestand, one, like riding straight.
Add some Rotella, see how they compare with early inspection after ten hours.
If okay, dump oil, add something that the dealership would recommend, and re run the test.


Send all donor engines to Dave!
Actually, I'd do it,  but, I ain't paying the freight...

The new ones look a tad bulkier.....but the other one is worn pretty badly and has a deep groove cut into it by the cam lobe (which was also worn).

I will have to weigh and measure the thickness to tell for sure....but they look very similar "bulkwise".

I can't post a pic but my latest oil filter, bought at the dealer, is slightly different from the original
I don't think it's possible to install it wrongside in any more