Looks like i bent my pushrods.

[artificialreef]

Hello folks. Little disappointed in myself. Went to check my rocker clearance on a 1983 merc 470 which requires the use of the feeler gauge and collapsing the lifters in a specific sequence. I found the #3 intake lifter not pumping up so am accessing the cover to replace. When i removed the rocker i found the pushrod bent. While it is at #4 tdc i decided to look at #2 and #4 exhaust in the sequence. Both bent also. I am assuming i did this collapsing the lifters. When i horsed on them with the tool i felt resistance then it gave way. I thought that felt a little strange.
I guess i have 3 questions.
1. I think i collapsed (and probably bent the pushrods)the lifters and then ran it on the muffs for a few minutes because i was going to just change a pushrod but changed direction and went after the lifter. (had to run it to figure out which lifter) Nothing sounded any different. Still the one bad one clacking. Did i do any damage to the motor running with those other pushrods bent?
2. When i found the 3 bent pushrods i removed them waiting on parts delivery. Can i rotate 360 degrees by hand to check the remaining since the first sequence of rods are out and the corresponding valves will not open to hit the cylinders?
3. There are 4 different length pushrods shown in the manual. Which ones are the stock ones and what combination of rods do you folks purchase to get a motor back together? Maybe 8 of the stock and a couple each of the others?
part numbers 67502-3 through 67502-6

Thank you for your help.
I am going to punch myself i the face if i find all the rods bent. I swear i did it in the right sequence. This is my worst nightmare. Screwing up the motor chasing a tapping noise.

 

[achris]

Re: Looks like i bent my pushrods.

There will be a colour band on the rods (no colour, red, blue, yellow). That's their length. They are 'hand selected' according to the valve clearance.

 

[artificialreef]

Re: Looks like i bent my pushrods.

But i have no starting point (all bent). I really dont want to buy 8 of each if i dont have to. Should i start with 8 stock (and which ones are stock) and get a couple of the rest? Any insight to the other 2 questions?
Thank you for your professional advice.

 

[AviatorJim]

Re: Looks like i bent my pushrods.

So different pushrods - where to start. The same thing is done with airplane engines. Just about any machine work, decking, valve seat grinding, will make the distances shorter, and require a shorter than stock pushrod. New valve seats, or camshaft/lifter grinding/reconditioning require a longer rod. So of no engine work has been done you should have the same rods (no band) all through the engine. Decking or valve grinding should affect all the cylinders equally. As will a cam/lifter grind. And all rods will be the same (all one color band). A new valve seat will usually be done to just the cylinder that needs it.

Or you can start with the assumption that the last guy to do it did it right, and you had the correct rods to begin with and order those.

Once it is set right it doesn't change until you get a machinist involved.

--Jim

 

[achris]

Re: Looks like i bent my pushrods.

But i have no starting point (all bent).....

:facepalm: Yeah, ya do! The original rods ARE your starting point... Just have a look at the colour band on them.... Or roughly straighten one and measure it.... Then check that measurement against the chart I put up....

Chris....

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Looks like i bent my pushrods.

Yeah Chris is right, just measure the bent ones, there are significant differences in the length from one color to the next, and you can get replacements from your local ford dealer, so if not sure just take them with you to the parts department, just mark them as to which hole they came out of.