Bent push rod

[RedMF40]

Should I try to straighten or just replace? I’m thinking replace, then see if I can straighten one day when I have nothing else to do. It’s out of my McCormick 10-20.

 

[old]

Should I try to straighten or just replace? I’m thinking replace, then see if I can straighten one day when I have nothing else to do. It’s out of my McCormick 10-20.View attachment 85430

Straighten and it is likely to bend again so if it where me I'd replace it

 

[Janicholson]

Sure. Not really crippled badly. use a end grain block of hardwood. a brass mallet, and a piece of flat glass. only try to get it generally straight theb begin using the glass to roll the rod looking for bends. it might take 20 minutes. I have confidence in a straightened pushrod. bending it back might even work harden it a bit. I have done it on similar rods maybe 15 times. If the valve is now loose it won't bend. Yes, no heat. Jim

 

[RedMF40]

Sure. Not really crippled badly. use a end grain block of hardwood. a brass mallet, and a piece of flat glass. only try to get it generally straight theb begin using the glass to roll the rod looking for bends. it might take 20 minutes. Jim

No heat?

 

[old]

No heat?

Heat can make it brittle and then in turn if it tries to bend again it can break

 

[rustred]

no problem to straighten that , just use a vise and a hammer to tap it straight, while pulling on it. then check it on a flat surface. and use a felt pen to mark the small bend, so u can fine tune it. has a couple on a minnie u worst than than that and straighten them , its still going.

 

[RedMF40]

Thanks, I’ll give it a try. So long as I don’t make it worse I should be ok.

 

[M-MAN]

My preference is a flat steel surface and light taps with a small brass hammer. Take your time and it will come out straight.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Yes. Clearly there are varying opinions on how to go about it, but I would go with a 6x6 and the first hammer I picked up off the bench.

Don't go whaling away on it. Just tappy-tap-tap.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Should I try to straighten or just replace? I’m thinking replace, then see if I can straighten one day when I have nothing else to do. It’s out of my McCormick 10-20.View attachment 85430

#1 Find what bent it.

#2 If you have never beat a bent push rod straight you have never worked on old equipment. You could have been that lucky if you are still at it one is in your future.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

I've straightened a few using the groove in my table saw. Working along the rod a little at a time.

 

[Blackhole49]

Back when he was still doing hay 30 years ago, I straightened 3 bent push rods on my neighbor's 3010 diesel. No heat and gentile tapping. He quit doing hay but still mows with the tractor occasionally. Never replaced the push rods and never figured out why they bent in the first place (I think it was wear and lack of adjustment).

 

[rustred]

Heat can make it brittle and then in turn if it tries to bend again it can break

Nope , the opposite will happen.

 

[JIM MN]

Should you figure out why the push rod bent in the first place? There must be a problem with the engine valves sticking? Maybe a little upper lubricant is needed?

 

[RedMF40]

Just to satisfy those who think I don’t know why it’s bent: stuck valve broke off. Others sticking as well. Now addressing issues in the valve train and elsewhere in the motor. Tractor came to me dead and stuck. Still dead but motor is freed up now. Thanks for the replies, I like the table saw idea.
Gerrit

 

[JIM MN]

Table saw groove is a great idea. Suggestion for you to try for the sticky valves. Mix up 50/50 automatic transmission fluid and lacquer thinner. Spray on valve stems and work valve up and down. Need to get lub down the valve stems. If they do not free up, you will have to pull the head.

 

[RedMF40]

Table saw groove is a great idea. Suggestion for you to try for the sticky valves. Mix up 50/50 automatic transmission fluid and lacquer thinner. Spray on valve stems and work valve up and down. Need to get lub down the valve stems. If they do not free up, you will have to pull the head.

Thanks, had to pull the head anyway for the broken-off valve. Head is off, #4 piston is out and the motor is freed up. New rings and some other parts on the way.

 

[stevieb49829]

Thanks, I’ll give it a try. So long as I don’t make it worse I should be ok.

I like to leave the hammers on their pegs and use the round opening on the end of a crescent wrench. Clamp in a vise and slowly bend each curve out of it. I do use my table saw as the flat surface. steve

 

[rustred]

Thanks, had to pull the head anyway for the broken-off valve. Head is off, #4 piston is out and the motor is freed up. New rings and some other parts on the way.

It’s a no brainer no to pull all the valves out now. Them springs are not that strong and the keepers come out east. Have a look at the valve sears and valve faces. Probably all putted from rust. Plus clean out the rust from the valve guides with a valve guide brush. Most of them old guides I have have seen are like a tree blowing in th red wind. Worn right out. But with some stuck u may be lucky. The only lube them guides and rockers get is what a person pours in on the felt. They were to be oiled every morning at start up. More don’t hurt. It’s when u don’t oil them everything is run dry

 

[RedMF40]

It’s a no brainer no to pull all the valves out now. Them springs are not that strong and the keepers come out east. Have a look at the valve sears and valve faces. Probably all putted from rust. Plus clean out the rust from the valve guides with a valve guide brush. Most of them old guides I have have seen are like a tree blowing in th red wind. Worn right out. But with some stuck u may be lucky. The only lube them guides and rockers get is what a person pours in on the felt. They were to be oiled every morning at start up. More don’t hurt. It’s when u don’t oil them everything is run dry

It’s all coming apart, thanks. “In for a dime, in for a dollar.”