Two things. If your machinist decided to grind on your rockers with that little spring on there, you need a new machinist. That's the number one sign that your geometry is wrong. If the spring is hitting the rocker, that's geometry.
Second, I never, ever run needle bearings on a shaft like that. It's damn tough to get shafts hard enough for that. I run the PRW stainless rockers and they have a bushing. Bushing is best. I don't know why everyone thinks a needle bearing on a shaft like that is the best option. A bushing will take way more load.
