VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 1931 valve lifters not turning

When I was adjusting the valves on my 31 this weekend I noticed that three valve push rods were not turning. Someone had once told me this was a problem but I do not remember why. Is it a problem and if so what would cause them to not turn. When it was rebuilt they were re-surfaced and the cam was redone. Anyone have any ideas? :) :)

According to my 1934 literature 1934 was the first year that had a "positive""feature that would make the lifters (and push rods) rotate.This was done by placing the cam lobes offset to the center position under the lifters causing the lifters to rotate.

I used to have a 60's Chev 6 cylinder that did the same thing occasionally. If you loosen off the lifter you will find the pushrod is sticky to turn. What I did was get a can of Rislone or other upper cylinder cleaner and put it in a squirt bottle. Then I drizzled it down the side of the push rod while turning it back and forth - when the stickyness is gone -the rod will turn again. Sometimes sticky crud will build up on the cam lobe and the resistance causes the lifter not to turn. If you don't want the work simply pour the can of cleaner into the oil and drive. I haven't bought any lately but there are lots of them on the market - the side of the can says - "loosens sticky lifters". Hope this helps.

I PLAN ON DOING MY VALVES SOON ON MY '32, SO MY QUESTION IS "SHOULD THEY TURN OR NOT"? SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE BEFORE '34 WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM TURNING.

DOES TURNING KEEP THE WEAR EVEN? MAYBE I SHOULD WORRY, IF THEY DON'T???

I believe it is not important for the push rods to turn...it is just that the lifter should rotate on the camshaft lobe to spread the wear over the base of the lifter.It would be intresting to see if the lifters are turning on the ones where the push rods are not.
This would not affect the valves

Sorry I hit the wrong button and cut my self off. I don"t think it should effect the valves but when doing a valve job it would be advisable to take the lifters out and inspect the bottoms.They should be flat & smooth,also the cam lobes would be visible and should not be worn so it would be a good time to inspect them also. I would guess the 31 lifters should turn but they just made it more positive in 34.

Because the push rods are not turning I am assuming that the lifter is not. I did not check to see if the push rod rotated smoothly in the rocker arm ball however. A bad spot on the ball could stop it from turning. I had the lifters machined when I took it apart, and I had the crank redone so that is what did not make any sence why they did not turn, but if they changed the cam in 34 to make them turn does that mean they may not turn in 31? :) :rolleyes: :(

When the valve is closed and the pushrod is not in compression can it be rotated with your fingers?, Is it possible that you don't have the proper lash adjustment? if the push rod is rough or if the ball socket on the rocker arm is burred or not centered over the pushrod it looks like to me it would be impossible to maintain the proper gap, let alone expect the pushrod to rotate, I would expect that unless there is a positive rotary mechanism the tendancy would for the pushrod to find a position that would be constant and not rotate.

:confused: :rolleyes:

Hi Folks, I have just replaced my rocker arms and push rods on my 32 and all push rods rotate!!

When the camshaft is re-ground, you should also have the lifters ground as well. The surface of the lifter should not be flat! The lifter grinding machine grinds the lifters with a small concave relief that allows the lifter to rotate as the cam lobe rises and falls. This allows for even wear throughout the the valve train ie.. Cam lobes, lifter bottoms and sides, push rods, upper and lower, rocker arm adjusting nuts, etc.

So yes, the lifter and push rods should rotate!