The Ford Barn

oldrelics · 04-05-2014, 02:56 PM

What the heck, my newly rebuilt(less than an hour) 221 got a stuck valve. I took it apart and found 1 exhaust valve completely stuck with carbon. The truck doesn't get out on the road so I guess it builds up right away(so my engine builder says). I'm replacing the parts anyway to be safe.

So I'm wondering now if I should run though some ATF through the carb to keep the others lubed up until I can get some road miles on it? I've heard of others using ATF in through the carb for winter storage and such.

Don't say Marvel Mystery Oil, cause I can't get that up here.

tubman · 04-05-2014, 05:43 PM

I gotta believe there is something else going on here. Carboned up with one hour on it? Something else is not right.

rotorwrench · 04-05-2014, 06:58 PM

I have to free stuck valves on the helicopter engines now and then. You can sure tell when one sticks too. The machine starts twitching around and losing power. When I go in that rocker box, I have to pull the valve springs & push the valve all the way into the cylinder to get a reamer in there. The reamer removes just the carbon. After that I polish the guide with a small piece of scotch brite on a rotating mandrel. If it isn't polished, the damn thing will carbon right back up. It's kind of a b!tch to get the valve back in but I've done it so many times I can do it with my eyes closed now. Back in the day, we used to run MMO in all the little Continental engine's fuel tank fills. Those engines loved to stick valves. This is why you see so many turbine powered aircraft now days. They are a lot more reliable since they don't have reciprocating parts but they are way more expensive to operate.

On a flathead, this is kind of a rare occurance. The guide may not have enough clearance to the valve stem. If you have to go back in there, I would sure make certain the clearance is correct or that there isn't some bend in that valve stem. It shouldn't stick that soon after an overhaul.

36tbird · 04-06-2014, 10:43 AM

Is it running too rich? I know a guy that carbonned up the valves so badly because he was running 3X2's straight, no progressive linkage, that a valve broke off its stem and destroyed a valve seat area.

55 dude · 04-06-2014, 05:52 PM

ATF will clean the carbon off the valves,do it at night and outside lots of smoke!

J Franklin · 04-06-2014, 11:15 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Check this thread.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=135813

04-05-2014, 02:56 PM	#1
oldrelics Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 571	New engine, stuck valve? Run though some ATF? What the heck, my newly rebuilt(less than an hour) 221 got a stuck valve. I took it apart and found 1 exhaust valve completely stuck with carbon. The truck doesn't get out on the road so I guess it builds up right away(so my engine builder says). I'm replacing the parts anyway to be safe. So I'm wondering now if I should run though some ATF through the carb to keep the others lubed up until I can get some road miles on it? I've heard of others using ATF in through the carb for winter storage and such. Don't say Marvel Mystery Oil, cause I can't get that up here.

04-05-2014, 05:43 PM	#2
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,321	Re: New engine, stuck valve? Run though some ATF? I gotta believe there is something else going on here. Carboned up with one hour on it? Something else is not right.

04-05-2014, 06:58 PM	#3
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: New engine, stuck valve? Run though some ATF? I have to free stuck valves on the helicopter engines now and then. You can sure tell when one sticks too. The machine starts twitching around and losing power. When I go in that rocker box, I have to pull the valve springs & push the valve all the way into the cylinder to get a reamer in there. The reamer removes just the carbon. After that I polish the guide with a small piece of scotch brite on a rotating mandrel. If it isn't polished, the damn thing will carbon right back up. It's kind of a b!tch to get the valve back in but I've done it so many times I can do it with my eyes closed now. Back in the day, we used to run MMO in all the little Continental engine's fuel tank fills. Those engines loved to stick valves. This is why you see so many turbine powered aircraft now days. They are a lot more reliable since they don't have reciprocating parts but they are way more expensive to operate. On a flathead, this is kind of a rare occurance. The guide may not have enough clearance to the valve stem. If you have to go back in there, I would sure make certain the clearance is correct or that there isn't some bend in that valve stem. It shouldn't stick that soon after an overhaul.

04-06-2014, 10:43 AM	#4
36tbird Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: nw SanAntonio, TX Posts: 939	Re: New engine, stuck valve? Run though some ATF? Is it running too rich? I know a guy that carbonned up the valves so badly because he was running 3X2's straight, no progressive linkage, that a valve broke off its stem and destroyed a valve seat area.

04-06-2014, 05:52 PM	#5
55 dude Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 359	Re: New engine, stuck valve? Run though some ATF? ATF will clean the carbon off the valves,do it at night and outside lots of smoke!

04-06-2014, 11:15 PM	#6
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,969	Re: New engine, stuck valve? Run though some ATF? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Check this thread. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=135813