Hemi- Broken push rod end and damaged lifter

Hemi- Broken push rod end and damaged lifter - 11/01/11 10:33 PM

Need your opinion here. First time to adjust the valve lash on a hydraulic lifter 2nd gen. Hemi, about 2,000 miles, found one intake way out of adjustment, so I thought. Found the tip of the push rod (lifter end) was broken off. Pulled the lifter out of the hole in 2 pieces, the cup and then the main body. What do you think happened?

I never noticed any loud noise like the lash being way loose. I'm a little puzzled.

Posted By: maxie

Re: Hemi- Broken push rod end and damaged lifter - 11/01/11 10:41 PM

not a roller? just a normal hydrualic? I may have some hemi pushrods in the garage. A guy here in town has gone threw a bunch of hydrualic rollers in his.

Probably all that "putting" around the show poodle does.

Posted By: Mopar Grandpa

Re: Hemi- Broken push rod end and damaged lifter - 11/01/11 10:53 PM

Yep, just a standard hydraulic Comp Cam. Have it chipped at 6K so I know the engine has not been over reved, which how could it since it only sees car shows......NOT. Overall push rod length is 11.350 which is not a standard Hemi push rod or so I've been told.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Hemi- Broken push rod end and damaged lifter - 11/01/11 11:07 PM

Quote:

What do you think happened?

I never noticed any loud noise like the lash being way loose. I'm a little puzzled.

Could mock the pieces back up to see what the clearance actually was but yeah I think you'd have heard it if it was excessive but I try not to assume anything. Prob just a defective part unfortunately

Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: Hemi- Broken push rod end and damaged lifter - 11/02/11 12:19 AM

Quote:

Prob just a defective part unfortunately

I strongly disagree, why would you think it's a defective part?

My $$ is on a incorrectly adjusted valve train.
Sorry about your trouble.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Hemi- Broken push rod end and damaged lifter - 11/02/11 02:19 AM

Quote:

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Prob just a defective part unfortunately

I strongly disagree, why would you think it's a defective part?

There's no reason to even disagree as he asked for thoughts/opinions and he will sort thru the thoughts/opinions that are offered

Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: Hemi- Broken push rod end and damaged lifter - 11/02/11 02:47 AM

Quote:

Quote:

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Prob just a defective part unfortunately

I strongly disagree, why would you think it's a defective part?

There's no reason to even disagree as he asked for thoughts/opinions and he will sort thru the thoughts/opinions that are offered

Because I can and have installed many cams and lifters and have never seen a defective part. After the engine is run they are defective and lot's of people blame quality control which in all the cases I have seen it was installation error.

Posted By: MAVERICKSHEMI

Re: Hemi- Broken push rod end and damaged lifter - 11/02/11 03:05 AM

Quote:

Quote:

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Prob just a defective part unfortunately

I strongly disagree, why would you think it's a defective part?

There's no reason to even disagree as he asked for thoughts/opinions and he will sort thru the thoughts/opinions that are offered

Because I can and have installed many cams and lifters and have never seen a defective part. After the engine is run they are defective and lot's of people blame quality control which in all the cases I have seen it was installation error.

Per my engine builder, He said the problem with the push rods was the motor sat to long..

Ofcourse 4 other engine builders said lack of oil was the problem..

Thanks engine builder!!

Posted By: Mopar Grandpa

Re: Hemi- Broken push rod end and damaged lifter - 11/02/11 04:18 AM

Okay guys, let's not beat each other up on this question. Here is a little background. The engine was built by ICH (No bashing is allowed) and was run and dynoed in November of 2007. I brought it home and installed it in my Barracuda in July of 2008 when it was fired for the first time since November of 2007. It fired right away, had immediate oil pressure and ran very, very well. Absolutely no problems.

The push rod does not indicate any oiling problems as there is no indication of getting hot at the point of fracture, ie; no blue/black marks. Just appears as a shear of the push rod end. The lifter is my biggest question. Did the failure of the push rod cause the destruction of the lifter or was it the other way around? I have built quite a few racing engines in my day but have never seen this.

And this situation only happened with one intake valve. I just don't think it was an oiling issue based on the evidence. I would still like to learn from those that have experienced the same issue.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Hemi- Broken push rod end and damaged lifter - 11/02/11 04:25 AM

adjustable rocker arms I'm assuming. up top on that arm/p rod did everything look OK/adjustment look the same as the rest?

Posted By: sthemi

Re: Hemi- Broken push rod end and damaged lifter - 11/02/11 04:50 AM

I had the same problem way back in the 80s, with factory pushrods. Cups were cracking and breaking off.
Changed over to Crower pushrods and never had a problem since. If the pushrod became too short due to the cup breaking the lifter can come apart since it is not under pressure.

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Hemi- Broken push rod end and damaged lifter - 11/02/11 02:17 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

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Prob just a defective part unfortunately

I strongly disagree, why would you think it's a defective part?

There's no reason to even disagree as he asked for thoughts/opinions and he will sort thru the thoughts/opinions that are offered

Because I can and have installed many cams and lifters and have never seen a defective part. After the engine is run they are defective and lot's of people blame quality control which in all the cases I have seen it was installation error.

Then you live in a perfect world , I seen a snap ring half pop out of a hyd. lifter and eat a cam , how is that installation error ?

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Hemi- Broken push rod end and damaged lifter - 11/02/11 02:20 PM

Quote:

Okay guys, let's not beat each other up on this question. Here is a little background. The engine was built by ICH (No bashing is allowed) and was run and dynoed in November of 2007. I brought it home and installed it in my Barracuda in July of 2008 when it was fired for the first time since November of 2007. It fired right away, had immediate oil pressure and ran very, very well. Absolutely no problems.

The push rod does not indicate any oiling problems as there is no indication of getting hot at the point of fracture, ie; no blue/black marks. Just appears as a shear of the push rod end. The lifter is my biggest question. Did the failure of the push rod cause the destruction of the lifter or was it the other way around? I have built quite a few racing engines in my day but have never seen this.

And this situation only happened with one intake valve. I just don't think it was an oiling issue based on the evidence. I would still like to learn from those that have experienced the same issue.

I would be checking guide clearance and make sure the valve wasn't the culprit. What is the pressure on the spring open and closed? I can remember seeing this posted that the same thing happened to a hollow body solid lifter.