How old is the gas you are using? That may sound like a funny question to ask but consider this, if the gas sat in the tank for a long time to the point it's turning to varnish, when you shut the engine off it can harden on the valve stem and stick the valve shut. That is what can bend the pushrod. That happened on my '38.
Last edited by Tiny; 11/13/2013 3:03 PM.
