The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Can you clean a sticky lifter.

If I have a sticky lifter in my 235, can I just...
1- remove the rockers,
2 - take the side cover off,
3 - slide out the pushrods,
4 - remove the lifters
5 - clean the lifters with a carb cleaner to get the varnish off,
6 - put everything back EXACTLY where they came from?

It makes sense to me but I'm not an experienced engine guy so I just wanted to ask.
Thanks

Hydraulic or solid? If all looks good and the lifter is sicking in the block you might have some luck with the plan. If Hydraulic you will need to soak and pump them until clean. Real clean. Really clean. Pull the lifters one at a time, less chance to mix them up that way. Keep the push rods in order so they go back the same way. But the most important thing to figure out...why sticky in the first place. Best way to see what the cam looks like is to pull the pan. That will let you shine a light up and see what you have. Look for pits, scuffing and wear. Same for each lifter. If the engine has been sitting you should check the rockers wile it is easy to see and move them. Do not use any abrasive what so ever. Wash with a clean rag and handle with care. Might just work.

If they are hydraulic lifters than yes they can be disassembled and cleaned. They will have a snap ring holding them together. They are very simple to disassemble and clean.
You may want to look at My Blog for more info.

Like Dave said. no problem. Pull it out and tear into it, it was assembled once, so why not again?

Joe

You should be able to make a perfectly satisfactory inspection of the cam lobes through the lifter holes, removing the pan while not technically difficult, is kind of a pain, and would be better left to the absolutely neccesary category in my opinion. That being said this could possibly turn into a can of worms. I went to get the head done on my truck (valves ground, new guides etc.) turned out the head had cracks, chunks were missing out of lifters, and cam lobes neccesitating a cam change, that is when I discovered you have to remove the pan to take the timing gear cover off. Which turned out to be a good thing as there was an incredible amount of crud lodged in it. You will have to make a judgement call of your own on that one.