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[Webby the Bear]

Hi guys,

Well, got everything in to put the top end back together. Finished cleaning up heads. PROCESS!!! Anyways in the drivers' side cylinder head I have two lifters that are stuck in place. obviously there's no where on these things to grip and I really don't want to bust out the pliers.

Am I ok to leave them in there?

The head was quite blackened with crusty oil so i'm thinking its just got seized in there and should free up when I start the car. but that's just my guess and want to see what you girls think

Many thanks.

oh ps, I have a dowel pin (to locate the HG on to the block) stuck in the head too..... it wont budge for nowt. ive checked and the head bolt goes through so there wont be any problem there but i'm presuming its going to make getting the head on a ta trickier

pps, shoved a loada oil on the combustion chambers. left to sit over night. no leaks at all. so all good 

[symes]

Use a magnet to pull lifter out mate Thats how I do it

[Webby the Bear]

Use a magnet to pull lifter out mate Thats how I do it

Yeah tried that mate. Buggers stuck fast lol

[symes]

ihead is off turn it upside down and lightly tap-see if that moves it-dont whack it--that breaks things mate

[Webby the Bear]

ihead is off turn it upside down and lightly tap-see if that moves it-dont whack it--that breaks things mate

ok mate, will give it a go 

if I cant get it out you reckon its ok to leave it?

ps heads cleaned up really nice bud 

[symes]

i would get it out mate-what if it shot-you would have a lot of stripping again-not fun-am surprised a magnet wouldn't get it though---b******** things

[Webby the Bear]

ok mate will do. may have to get creative with it 

[symes]

i did one by tapping valve head with wood--lifter soon fell out and no damage-good luck mate-bell me later--am out firklin parts-v8 coffee table   and meal at mates

[Webby the Bear]

i did one by tapping valve head with wood--lifter soon fell out and no damage-good luck mate-bell me later--am out firklin parts-v8 coffee table   and meal at mates

awesome mate will do

enjoy 

[Lazydocker]

I wouldn't be happy leaving it there

[Rods2]

If it is semi-seized, then I would want to remove to see if there is any damage to the head alloy and if all ok, then to clean everything up so it moves freely.

When I removed mine, while doing my head gaskets, I used a pair of plumbing pliers to lightly grip them. the strongest magnets I have got are on a couple of magnetic welding clamps, it may be worth trying something like that.

[Webby the Bear]

thanks guys. going to give it a go later on 

[Andy H]

You need to know that they are not seized or rusted in place. If they are seized the cambelt will skip several teeth the first time the engine turns over

Aluminium alloy expands more than steel, oil and heat should get them loose enough to lift out with a magnet on a stick.

[andymp]

Normally they are "stuck" in place by the vacuum created by the oil they run in. Some pliers and a thick piece rag (such as denim) between the hydraulic lifter and the pliers to prevent damage. Gently pull and rotate at the same time to break the vacuum.

If it wont come out, its no big deal if there weren't any tappet noises before?

[andymp]

Normally they are "stuck" in place by the vacuum created by the oil they run in. Some pliers and a thick piece rag (such as denim) between the hydraulic lifter and the pliers to prevent damage. Gently pull and rotate back and forth at the same time to break the vacuum.

If it wont come out, its no big deal if there weren't any tappet noises before?

[Andy H]

Normally they are "stuck" in place by the vacuum created by the oil they run in. Some pliers and a thick piece rag (such as denim) between the hydraulic lifter and the pliers to prevent damage. Gently pull and rotate at the same time to break the vacuum.

If it wont come out, its no big deal if there weren't any tappet noises before?

I think Webby is fitting a pair of heads that are new to him so they may have been standing for a while.

[dbug]

If it was mine mate I wouldn't leave them stuck there and risk the engine on start up. I'd get them out, clean it all up and refit checking they are free 

[andymp]

My apologies. I assumed you were refitting heads you had removed. If they have been sat for a while, or if the history is unknown, they need to come out and be cleaned. Especially given the volume of work that goes into fitting two heads..

[Kevin Wood]

Another tip for getting them out is a valve grinding stick with the "sucker" on the end.

As said, you need to investigate why it's tight. If it sticks while running, you'll have a bent valve to deal with.