1947 Head Assembly question

[skidshoe]

Rebuilding my first knuckle, 1947 EL. While assembling the heads, I have brought the rocker assembly together just as the rebuild manual details. I have sufficient side play clearance for the rocker arm between the rocker box and head mount brackets, but my rocker arms are tight as hell as far as movement up and down with the valve. The book explains that this will occur with new gaskets as you pinch the assembly together but I wondered if anybody else can verify this is ok, or provide any other insight/input. I can push the rocker arm down to the valve if I completely lean on the arm with my upper body while pressing with both hands/thumbs, but have to carefully pry back up with a screwdriver. Seems really tight. Thanks for the input!

[Rubone]

If assembled correctly the tin covers seat into the rubber seal ring causing it to become very tight on the rocker shaft. That part is normal. Did you assemble them with no seal to check the end play? A tight rocker on length can break the rocker box ears off. Were the seals and arms lubed before assembly?

[skidshoe]

Rubone, I assembled them with the seals and the tin covers seated into the seals as I believe they should, but obviously causing the seal to tighten up on the rocker shaft. I put some assembly lube on the seals and rocker shafts before assembly also. Do I need to use oil? Didn't get carried away with the lube because I was thinking I needed to leave the face of the seal clean if I decided to apply very thin coat of gasket sealant to further seal point of contact with the tin covers. I have the end play, but still unsure of the tightness. The tins really press into those seals though so it's no wonder things tighten up, but as I said, my first knuckle experience...Would it benefit me to assemble without seals even though I have verified my end play?