Sheet metal rocker arm, manufacturing method thereof, cam follower with said rocker arm, and assembling method thereof

A sheet metal rocker arm manufactured by the steps of punching a sheet of metal plate to form a blank having a predetermined contour and a through hole, and then subjecting this blank to a bending work based on a press work to form a pair of side walls parallel to each other, a connecting portion for connecting the ends of both side walls in a width direction of the rocker arm, at least a pair of through holes formed at positions which are aligned with each other on the both side walls;

• and at least one engagement portion provided in a part of said connecting portion,
• wherein the thickness of the part with at least one engagement portion provided thereon, out of said connecting portion, is greater than the thickness of said both side walls by subjecting to a press work the part with at least said one engagement portion provided thereon, out of this connecting portion,
• wherein the engagement portion comprises first and second engagement portions, the first engagement portion, out of these engagement portions, for abutting a base end portion of a valve unit is formed at one end of each of the side walls in the length direction out of the connecting portion, and the thickness of at least the portion forming said first engagement portion out of said connecting portion is made greater than the thickness of the side walls.