Bad Mechanic

[Jtrue]

I took my truck in to get fixed for just a coolant leak they shaved down the heads and all that, and replaced both head gaskets. I got it back and it didnt leak any coolant, but after about two weeks my rocker arm snapped on the end... should they have to pay for that????

[hazelnut]

You didn't say what engine but I'm guessing FE ? Are you saying the rocker arm it's self broke ? Or the end of the rocker arm shaft that FEs have broke ?
Any mod's been done to the engine like a bigger cam ?

Need more info to give a decent answer.

[Ranchero50]

Need more info to give a decent answer.

Can you prove their work caused the arm to break or was it just bad luck? Why only one arm?

You have to look at it from a business owners perspective, he has no idea what happened to the truck once it left his property. It certainly wouldn't hurt to stop by and talk to the guy, asking what he thinks could have caused the failure. Be honest, place no blame or have any expectation for it to be repaired for free. You might be surprised how things turn out.

[elgemcdlf]

Original rocker assemblies? If so over 40 years old. Why would you be surprised it broke?

[cep62]

I had that happen to me.
390 , too big of a cam ,coil spring bind ,bent push rod and broken shaft . (the last one)
Put it back together and drove it for awhile and it did it again (big suprise)
I probably had 500 miles total run time, nothing hard as I was still breaking it in .
I put in new springs with enough clearance and no more problems, for last twenty five years.