Collapsing Lifters To Restart Engine?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Feb 15, 2012 | 12:36 AM

Kim72

Thread Starter

Pro

Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 558

Likes: 22

From: Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Collapsing Lifters To Restart Engine?

An old time mechanic, of a friend of mine, tells us that all the existing lifters on an engine, that has not been started for a long time, should be removed and collapsed before trying to restart. He claims, otherwise, we will have trouble starting the engine. While l'm no expert, l've been around cars/engines for a long time and have never heard of this. Am I missing something here? Is this the case?

Feb 15, 2012 | 12:59 AM

HamadUP

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 2,877

Likes: 13

From: Doha

St. Jude Donor '08

How can we "collapse" a lifter? did he mean to pump or prime it with oil first?

Feb 15, 2012 | 01:09 AM

tracdogg2

Drifting

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 1,995

Likes: 110

From: Garland Texas

That is just nonsense.

Feb 15, 2012 | 08:16 AM

Indiancreek

Drifting

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 1,781

Likes: 15

From: Oxford Ohio

I wonder if he's talking about making the push rod cup move in case it's stuck where it's been for some time?

Feb 15, 2012 | 08:44 AM

Easy Mike

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 2000

Posts: 38,923

Likes: 1,482

From: Southbound

Cruise-In II Veteran

How old is your "old time mechanic"?

Feb 15, 2012 | 10:20 AM

69 Chevy

Melting Slicks

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 2,200

Likes: 3

From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania

Quote:

Originally Posted by tracdogg2

That is just nonsense.

Feb 15, 2012 | 10:35 AM

427basketcase

Drifting

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 1,546

Likes: 5

From: Sacramento California

Yea, he is probably right, then after that you go to the front of the car, grab the crank and start turning it to start the engine

Feb 16, 2012 | 11:04 AM

tracdogg2

Drifting

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 1,995

Likes: 110

From: Garland Texas

Trying to start an engine with collapsed lifters is much harder to do and have a good chance of spitting off a rocker arm. I think he is thinking about the lifters holding the valves open which is impossible with an assembled engine.
Mike