Bent Push Rods

[rdnkjdi]

I pulled my head to replace my head gasket, and one of my push rods is bent a lot. It's been gouged from rubbing. At least one other is noticeably bent. Somebody suggested I might be able to straighten them rather than get new ones. This strikes me as a bad idea, but I wouldn't mind getting my engine put back together today. Should I straighten or get new ones?

Is there anything else I should do\check for while I've got the head off?

 

[BlwnGazkit]

Push rods are cheap, just replace it and don't chance it.

Plus it's asking for trouble to straighten a pushrod and reuse it.

Make sure you replace it with the correct length.

 

[dbfarr]

Uh, push rods typically shouldn't just bend on their little own some. Check your valve train geometry, coil bind, etc. Or, install a rev limiter.

I may, and am, usually incomplete or wrong. So, as far as I know, over revving or incorrect valve train geometry are the only ways to fubar a push rod. Maybe oiling problems. So, in short, find the source,... then replace the push rods.

For sure, don't straighten them, they're junk. Except for maybe prying at things... I used one to lock the armature on a 3g alternator when I was zapping the pulley off/on.

 

[BullittStangV8]

My vote is to get new ones. I bent a pushrod on my motor, and it cost me a whole rotating assembly/block. I dont know if other things went wrong and then bent it, or it bent, and caused the problems.

 

[rdnkjdi]

I've been thinking about how they got bent...and a few times gotten my car WAY too hot. I never could figure out what was happening to the water...so far I've replaced my thermostat, radiator trying to fix it, but I'm thinking it was the head gasket. I got it so hot it cracked my exhaust manifold. Could that've warped my rods?

 

[BullittStangV8]

I bent my rods/valves when my rpms got wayyy to high.

 

[rbohm]

first get new push rods. as stated they are cheap.

as for why they bent, there are a number of reasons, including;

coil bind

valve float

excessive rpm

valve to piston interference

bent valves

check these areas over carefully to be sure you have no problems in these areas.

 

[headgrinder]

bent p/rods

A sticking valve can cause a bent push rod. It can stick due to carbon build up,lack of lubrication or excessive heat. If you know what cyl/and if it was an int or ex. you can do a simple but not definitive test by tapping on the suspect valve on the spring side and compare the sound (if it moves or not) to another valve if it does not move
you have a stuck or sticking guide if it seems fine remove spring and inspect valve stem anyway.Now is a good time as it is much harder to do after head is back on.

ps make sure that the head is on side so you dont tap valve into contact with table/ground and bend it.


Good luck

 

[p0prcksandc0ke]

same thing happend to me cost me 46 bucks to replace all of the pushrods

 

[D.Hearne]

first get new push rods. as stated they are cheap.

as for why they bent, there are a number of reasons, including;

coil bind

valve float

excessive rpm

valve to piston interference

bent valves

check these areas over carefully to be sure you have no problems in these areas.

Add wiped cam lobes and pulled out rocker sutds to this list.

 

[MustangMatt1966]

just a stupid question but what is "coil bind"?? just wondering

 

[rbohm]

just a stupid question but what is "coil bind"?? just wondering

coil bind is where the valve springs, or any other coil spring, reaches its maximum compression capability, and becomes for all intents a solid cylinder. it wont compress any further, thus the coils "bind". this can happen in two ways;

you use a cam that has more lift than the springs were designed to handle

you float the valves