Should I clean the rocker assembly or leave it be?

The rocker assembly off my D179 engine will be going back on this weekend hopefully. Right now it's sat on the bench exactly as it came off the head..... pretty black with oil but basically fine.
I would like to put in back on looking nicer than it does, but I don't want to strip everything off it. Can I clean it complete (i.e. dunk the entire assembly as is in a suitable solution) or does this risk dirt getting where it shouldn't.

Should I just leave it be?

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I would definately clean it up. Looks a little carbon and possibly rust coated. I've always used a tub of diesel fuel and a good stiff, yet absorbent, brush to clean hard parts like your rocker arms. The diesel is a good solvent that isn't as flammable as gasoline, and is much cheaper that buying store brand cleaners. Also, I love the smell of that diesel. Another thing to check for is the oiling ports and holes. Make sure that they are not plugged up with anything, and I would suggest using an air compressor to purge those lines and clean out any sludge that may have accumulated over the years.

Hope that helps,

Mr. J

PS: I just had a student bring in a Super 44 Oliver, there were only 750 of those made. It was stuck tight from sitting 14 years in grandpas shed, but, now we've got the pistons and valves out and are looking forward to hearing the little bugger run in a couple of months....Just a little heads up from the Jasper MO agricultural education shop.

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As easy as it is to dissamble the rocker assembly, I believe that I would go ahead and dissamble the assembly and clean the bearing surfaces of the rocker arms....Have cleaned several without disassembly without any problems, but, the older I get the more I learn to do something right the first time. I think getting older and calmer I learn to work smarter and not faster....make less mistakes that way...The problem is that I am only 25. Anyway, good luck with your tractor,

Jared Jeffries