I have 2 of my 16 lifters "frozen". I'm in the process of rebuilding the Euro and noticed that two of the lifters don't "spring" when pushed. I heated them up to about 350 in the oven. This allowed one to move a bit, but the other is still stiff.
Should I spray solvent in the oil hole to free up? Any other way to "fix" these or should I just get two new ones?
Thanks for any help.

 

Hi John:

You have stimulated my curiosity a bit. When you say they don't spring. Does that mean you can't collapse them when you push, or they don't spring back when you release?

 

Here is the method to fix 914 Hyd lifters. Soak in solvent. blow out with air. Set in pan of clean oil and compress/ pump oil back into them. As oil goes in the lifter will stiffen up. Just out of curiosity what kind of oil do you run in the Euro?
Hope this helps, Joe Ricard
78 5 speed (your "S" brakes)
74 914 all over my garage.

 

dr Bob,
The "button" in the center of the lifter doesn't collapse when pushed. All the others do, so acts like a solid lifter. Maybe a good amount of goo or something else is trapped inside.
I placed the lifters with the oil hole facing down. This drained out the oil when it was heated. Still pretty solid.

Hi Joe,
I just but them in some solvent for an over night bath. I'll check them in the morning, thanks! I run Mobil-1 15w50. The Euro will get the same as soon as the new motor is broken in with some conventional oil.
You have that suspension off yet?

 

John,
I would say that is normal, you want a hydraulic lifter “pumped up, hard” charged with oil, that is how they work. If the lifters are “springy“ then they are either collapsed or not charged with oil (filled with oil).

Take the lifters that “spring“. Place them in a can filled with clean motor oil (with the oil bore up overnight until they fill with oil). They should be hard (pumped up). Remember lifters open and close the valves. A collapsed lifter will make a tapping noise.

Take the lifter that may be seized. Lay it with the oil bore down to drain. When drained, they should spring up and down, if not there are seized.


“WHEN IN DOUBT THROW THEM OUT”

Good Luck
Steve C
The Great White

 

If the contact surfaces lifters and cams are both perfect, it is best to keep them together and not unecessarily replace lifters. (I am assuming that you did identify these lifters, so you can put them back on the same lobe.)

I would use a good solvent, such as Rislone or Techron, and see if the lifter will free up. You do want all of them to spring freely when they are empty.

In extremis, use a wooden dowel to tap on the the plunger to free it. Be certain to avoid scarring or scratching the rubbing face of the lifter, as well as the bore and the plunger.

 

Hi Wally,
The lifters were put back in their orginial location (engine building 101..right
When I was putting the cams and lifters back together I noticed the two lifters in question. Thumb could't push them down. I have them soaking in thinners right now to see if they free up. I'll keep everyone posted.
Thanks for the help and suggestions.

 

Well soaking for two days didn't do it. One is a little looser and the other one moves just a tiny bit. This is after smacking it with a piece of wood. Time to get a few used ones fron 928 International at $20.00 each. New ones are $65.00ea!
Thanks for everyones help.