The Ford Barn

melisahe · 12-17-2017, 11:55 AM

bought this 8rt engine, got it running on seven cyl, has one stuck valve, Anyone got a way to free it without pulling head. had it soaking overnight in pb blaster. tried allen wrench, feels pretty solid. all suggestions appreciated, mike

Crankster · 12-17-2017, 12:57 PM

Marvel oil or Rislone has lots of adherents, pick one. Seem to have a very good track record for this purpose.

Kruzn40 · 12-17-2017, 01:12 PM

If Marvel Mystery Oil doesn't do it then your next step is disassembly.

RalphG · 12-17-2017, 01:15 PM

I had at least 7 stuck valves on the 52 Merc when I started on it a few years back. Time and patience works. I sprayed penetrating oil down the stems through the spark plug holes. After a while some gentle tapping with a hammer and punch worked for me. Of course the valve has to be open and the cam shaft in the right postition so you are not tapping against the cam and lifter. I used this same method on the 39.

alanwoodieman · 12-17-2017, 01:40 PM

try a mixture of 50% acetone and 50% auto transmission fluid, continue to soak and as stated above a short wood dowel and light taps with a hammer on the valve head. I think what really occurs to stick the valve is rust on the valve stem and guide. cast iron is porous and oil will eventually drain out of it, letting rust occur

HDowse · 12-17-2017, 03:39 PM

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I helped a friend with a '31 Model A with a stuck valve and used RalphG's method successfully. I used PB Blaster under the head of the valve that stayed open. We left that a few days with repeated sprays on a daily basis. Then I got a 3/8th wood dowel and a 16 oz hammer (no need for the BFH) and tapped the valve down. Friend cranked the engine over with the hand crank and the valve came up again on the cam, friend cranked beyond that and I hit the top of the valve again and found it went down a little easier. We did that about a dozen times and stopped when all it took was a minor tap on the valve with just the dowel to get it to seat. Plugs back in, rolled the A out of the garage, shut the door, started it up and amid the smoke from the solvent, the motor quickly started running on all 4. Happy but tired friend.

melisahe · 12-17-2017, 04:57 PM

Tks for the info, will keep trying, valve is stuck open but is mostly hidden by head. will post results after a few days of soaking.

rotorwrench · 12-17-2017, 06:22 PM

I guess I don't have the patience some folks have. I just pull the heads and work them for a while. I decarbonize & clean everything up then put them back on with new gaskets. There is always a risk of breaking studs or bolts but it's still faster than soaking & waiting. I like to see what's going on in there on an engine that's new to me. Some times you find a broken ring or things of that nature. The Marvel Mystery Oil is the cat's meow for stuck valve stems whether you pull the heads or not. You can run it in the fuel or oil in specific quantities. Pour some down the carb while it's running. It'll smoke for a bit but sometimes it will free up stuck rings or valve stems.

RalphG · 12-17-2017, 08:58 PM

I don't recall how long it took but did not seem too long a time for the valves on the 39 to unstick. I recorded some of it on video just for fun.
https://youtu.be/xn8q0ygd3k4

tubman · 12-17-2017, 09:09 PM

Sure, try a few things to get it unstuck, but if it doesn't free up after reasonable effort, you should really pull the heads and intake to see if there is a more serious problem (broken spring, etc.). Don't risk an otherwise good engine with "heroic" efforts.

flatford8 · 12-17-2017, 09:47 PM

I agree with the advice above. Have patience. You want to be sure the oil pump isn’t stuck also....... Mark

Frank Miller · 12-18-2017, 08:59 AM

Sometimes they stick due to varnish. A little carb cleaner takes care of that.

Ol' Ron · 12-18-2017, 09:29 AM

The best penetrating fluid is the 50/50 mix, it really works.

melisahe · 12-22-2017, 10:12 AM

Ended up pulling head and pulling engine through-tapping valve down numerous times. no luck. soaked in acetone and trans mixture for two days, valve still wouldn't go back down. Finally pulled intake and found the keepers missing at bottom of valve. Valve still very sticky-pulled valve assy and ordered new parts. Looked all over for Keepers even used magnet. No luck-now wondering were they went. Mike

FrankWest · 12-22-2017, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melisahe

Ended up pulling head and pulling engine through-tapping valve down numerous times. no luck. soaked in acetone and trans mixture for two days, valve still wouldn't go back down. Finally pulled intake and found the keepers missing at bottom of valve. Valve still very sticky-pulled valve assy and ordered new parts. Looked all over for Keepers even used magnet. No luck-now wondering were they went. Mike

Maybe dropped into the oil pan below

GOSFAST · 12-22-2017, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melisahe

Ended up pulling head and pulling engine through-tapping valve down numerous times. no luck. soaked in acetone and trans mixture for two days, valve still wouldn't go back down. Finally pulled intake and found the keepers missing at bottom of valve. Valve still very sticky-pulled valve assy and ordered new parts. Looked all over for Keepers even used magnet. No luck-now wondering were they went. Mike

One more time, at the point where you're at now I would be doing a "permanent" fix with some bronze-lined guides and stainless valves, you will NEVER have a "hung" valve again in your entire life with this method!

Been down this road hundreds of times doing the Flatheads, it IS a permanent cure!

If your guides aren't damaged you can simply line them and save the cost of buying new guides at least! We've been doing a couple hundred a year lately, many for the forum members up here!!

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. Wishing all here a safe and "Happy Holiday" season!! "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year"!

40cpe · 12-22-2017, 12:08 PM

Merry Christmas to Gary and his loved ones! May your New Year be filled with health and happiness.

Thank you for your contribution of sound, helpful advice on this forum. My engine might not have come together without your help.

GOSFAST · 12-23-2017, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 40cpe

Merry Christmas to Gary and his loved ones! May your New Year be filled with health and happiness.

Thank you for your contribution of sound, helpful advice on this forum. My engine might not have come together without your help.

Hi Gene, "Thank You" this means a lot to me AND my family and I'm glad to be able to contribute!

We do so many different type builds (Chev's, Pontiacs, Buicks, Olds's, etc.) and I enjoy the Flatheads more than most others. Every one is kind of unique to each customer.

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. Wishing all here a safe and "Happy Holiday" season!! "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year"!

12-17-2017, 11:55 AM	#1
melisahe Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: new orleans Posts: 258	stuck valve bought this 8rt engine, got it running on seven cyl, has one stuck valve, Anyone got a way to free it without pulling head. had it soaking overnight in pb blaster. tried allen wrench, feels pretty solid. all suggestions appreciated, mike

12-17-2017, 12:57 PM	#2
Crankster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 563	Re: stuck valve Marvel oil or Rislone has lots of adherents, pick one. Seem to have a very good track record for this purpose.

12-17-2017, 01:12 PM	#3
Kruzn40 Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 61	Re: stuck valve If Marvel Mystery Oil doesn't do it then your next step is disassembly.

12-17-2017, 01:15 PM	#4
RalphG Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Sask. Canada Posts: 2,550	Re: stuck valve I had at least 7 stuck valves on the 52 Merc when I started on it a few years back. Time and patience works. I sprayed penetrating oil down the stems through the spark plug holes. After a while some gentle tapping with a hammer and punch worked for me. Of course the valve has to be open and the cam shaft in the right postition so you are not tapping against the cam and lifter. I used this same method on the 39. __________________ https://www.youtube.com/user/roosty6/videos

12-17-2017, 01:40 PM	#5
alanwoodieman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: upstate SC Posts: 3,000	Re: stuck valve try a mixture of 50% acetone and 50% auto transmission fluid, continue to soak and as stated above a short wood dowel and light taps with a hammer on the valve head. I think what really occurs to stick the valve is rust on the valve stem and guide. cast iron is porous and oil will eventually drain out of it, letting rust occur

12-17-2017, 03:39 PM	#6
HDowse Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hancock, New Hampshire Posts: 393	Re: stuck valve Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I helped a friend with a '31 Model A with a stuck valve and used RalphG's method successfully. I used PB Blaster under the head of the valve that stayed open. We left that a few days with repeated sprays on a daily basis. Then I got a 3/8th wood dowel and a 16 oz hammer (no need for the BFH) and tapped the valve down. Friend cranked the engine over with the hand crank and the valve came up again on the cam, friend cranked beyond that and I hit the top of the valve again and found it went down a little easier. We did that about a dozen times and stopped when all it took was a minor tap on the valve with just the dowel to get it to seat. Plugs back in, rolled the A out of the garage, shut the door, started it up and amid the smoke from the solvent, the motor quickly started running on all 4. Happy but tired friend.

12-17-2017, 04:57 PM	#7
melisahe Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: new orleans Posts: 258	Re: stuck valve Tks for the info, will keep trying, valve is stuck open but is mostly hidden by head. will post results after a few days of soaking.

12-17-2017, 06:22 PM	#8
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,410	Re: stuck valve I guess I don't have the patience some folks have. I just pull the heads and work them for a while. I decarbonize & clean everything up then put them back on with new gaskets. There is always a risk of breaking studs or bolts but it's still faster than soaking & waiting. I like to see what's going on in there on an engine that's new to me. Some times you find a broken ring or things of that nature. The Marvel Mystery Oil is the cat's meow for stuck valve stems whether you pull the heads or not. You can run it in the fuel or oil in specific quantities. Pour some down the carb while it's running. It'll smoke for a bit but sometimes it will free up stuck rings or valve stems.

12-17-2017, 08:58 PM	#9
RalphG Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Sask. Canada Posts: 2,550	Re: stuck valve I don't recall how long it took but did not seem too long a time for the valves on the 39 to unstick. I recorded some of it on video just for fun. https://youtu.be/xn8q0ygd3k4 __________________ https://www.youtube.com/user/roosty6/videos

12-17-2017, 09:09 PM	#10
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 11,638	Re: stuck valve Sure, try a few things to get it unstuck, but if it doesn't free up after reasonable effort, you should really pull the heads and intake to see if there is a more serious problem (broken spring, etc.). Don't risk an otherwise good engine with "heroic" efforts.

12-17-2017, 09:47 PM	#11
flatford8 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lyman,ME. Posts: 2,890	Re: stuck valve I agree with the advice above. Have patience. You want to be sure the oil pump isn’t stuck also....... Mark __________________ I'm thinkin' about crankin' My ragged ol' truck up and haulin' myself into town. Billy Joe Shaver…RIP

12-18-2017, 08:59 AM	#12
Frank Miller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn, MA Posts: 2,106	Re: stuck valve Sometimes they stick due to varnish. A little carb cleaner takes care of that. __________________ “The technique of infamy is to start two lies at once and get people arguing heatedly over which is true.” ~ Ezra Pound

12-18-2017, 09:29 AM	#13
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,985	Re: stuck valve The best penetrating fluid is the 50/50 mix, it really works.

12-22-2017, 10:12 AM	#14
melisahe Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: new orleans Posts: 258	Re: stuck valve Ended up pulling head and pulling engine through-tapping valve down numerous times. no luck. soaked in acetone and trans mixture for two days, valve still wouldn't go back down. Finally pulled intake and found the keepers missing at bottom of valve. Valve still very sticky-pulled valve assy and ordered new parts. Looked all over for Keepers even used magnet. No luck-now wondering were they went. Mike

12-22-2017, 12:08 PM	#17
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,120	Re: stuck valve Merry Christmas to Gary and his loved ones! May your New Year be filled with health and happiness. Thank you for your contribution of sound, helpful advice on this forum. My engine might not have come together without your help.