this engine has not ran since the mid 80s. i primed it up with a drill till i had oil coming from most of the rockers. i got it started and one of the lifters is stuck. one that didn't have oil coming out while i was priming. is there any tricks to getting them to free up without pulling the intake? i am sure i will have to but thought i would ask. i only ran it for a minute, i am thinking i will run it longer and see what happens.

 

The factory shop books recommended whacking the rocker arm on the offending lifter with a mallet while engine was running to free a stuck lifter or quiet it down.

But, since this one is apparently related to sludge/varnish/lack of use, dump a quart of Rislone or Marvel Mystery Oil, or even some transmission fluid, in it and let it run a few minutes to see if it will free up.

Which engine is this Eric?

 

Take the valve cover off, remove that rocker assy, and you can lift the push rod out a little bit and spray a $hit load of penetrating oil down through the pushrod hole. Reassemble the rockers, and hand turn the engine and tap on the offending rocker with a plastic mallet. That may break it loose!

When you pulled your valve covers off, was there a bunch of CA Ca in there?

 

Know years ago as kid, would have older cars with stuck hydraulic lifters, and some solvent additives for this purpose would help. Maybe Risilone, but know it looked like a quart of paint thinner. Was only intended to run for a couple days, then the whole oil pan needed to be drained out. Sorry, as awhile back, but did free up the stuck lifters quite well.

 

Lacquer thinner will work for this. It will dissolve varnish like buildup faster than anything else I know of. Flood the lifter through the push-rod (if hollow push-rod) and tap gently and it should free up the stuck lifter. Years back I used a mixture of 2 quarts lacquer thinner, 2 quarts kerosene and 2 quarts oil. Let engine run at a little above idle speed but fast enough to maintain some oil pressure. You shouldn't have to run it long for this.
My 2cents worth.
stetzie

 

... or just put 50 or 100 miles on it, and it'll probably free up on its own.

- Eric

 

try marvel mystery oil

 

i think this lifter is stuck on the very bottom of it's travel. it is very clean under the valve covers. i ran it for another 5 minutes till i had oil coming out all the rockers and it is still stuck. that rocker make all kinds of racket. i am going to change the oil anyway so i may run some penetrating oil down the push rod and leave it till tomorrow. thanks for the ideas.

this is the engine in my 70 W-30 i started the other thread on.