Signs of an Improper Length of Push Rods

An engine with the wrong length of pushrods can create a broken valve head

Pushrods control the firing of the different engine cylinders by pressing open each valve individually as the camshaft rotates. These rods ride on top of the camshaft and as the camshaft spins, the pushrod slides up and down, opening the valves, which fire the cylinders. Pushrods must be exactly the right length for the engine to operate properly.

Engine Power Drop

If the pushrod is too long, it will cause the engine to lose its maximum power capacity because the rods will cause the valve guides to become loose and inconsistent.

Engine Compression Loss

As the improper pushrods create more wear on the cylinders, the cylinders will eventually leak and cause a pressure drop in the engine until eventually the engine is completely ruined.

Advanced Valve Wear

The pushrods are in direct contact with the rocker arm which opens and closes the valves. When the pushrods are too long, they hit the rocker arm and valves at the wrong angle. If the vehicle is operated with an improperly sized pushrod for too long, the valves could be ruined as well.

References

• Circle Track Magazine: Finding Proper Pushrod Length