[Farmall] stuck push rods

[Robert L. Holtzer]

  On 8/12/2010 3:03 PM, William Ransom wrote:
> Just before I started asking about how to install the generator belt, I bought a starter and put it on the Farmall M. The starter cranks the engine all right, but I noticed that cranking the engine didn't seem to blow any air out the smokestack, and also closing the choke didn't affect the sound any. (I would expect that with the choke closed, the air going through the narrow openings in the carburetor would make a noticeable sound. I know it did when I closed the choke while coast-starting the tractor in 2004-2006.) Also, when I went to time the magneto after filing the points, I couldn't feel any air coming out the spark plug hole, so I couldn't tell whether it was on the compression or exhaust stroke. Because of all this, I thought there was likely some kind of problem with the valves, so I took the valve cover off. When I took the valve cover off, I found that all but one of the push rods seem to be stuck up, holding the valves open. Only one valve opened and closed as I!
>    turned the fan. Do you have any suggestions for how to get them unstuck?
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Push rods, valve lifters and/or rocker arms stuck?  It is easy enough to 
pull the rocker arm shaft to check.  May just need a good cleaning.  As 
I recall there is considerable room around push rods and head/block so 
it would take a lot of gunk to get them stuck.  At any rate, if the 
rocker arms are not the problem, I'd pour an ounce or so of Rislone down 
each push rod and let it soak for a day or so.  I've found that Rislone 
can loosen stuck rings.  It also is compatible with engine oil.

Bob Holtzer