valves, possibly bent one by hand advice wanted

[plumAJP]

i think i have bent a valve slightly as when i turn one cam it seems to be sticky when the 1st valve just starts to open.

when the valve is closed its closed like all the other closed valves. it just seems like there is a tiny bit of resistance when turning the cam on the 1st valve on the head.(once this has opened the cam spins easily for all other valves until i get back to nuber one about to open again)

should i get a new valve or will this flow and bed in once the engine begins to spin the cam a bit faster than i can by hand. if the valve is bent it has bent by me tunring the engine over by hand and loosing the timing so its not awfully bent just slighlty i think as when closed its the same level on the surface of the head as other inlet valves.

if i should get a new valve where do people recomend i go for them as i can't seem find them.

[oilyrag1424]

Check the valve clearance if its bent it will have a large gap.

[Nickccc]

http://www.readmanracing.co.uk/index.php
Here for valves, certainly had them when they sorted my engine as had them all replaced.

[plumAJP]

if i check clearance and its ok then will it be ok to run with it?

[itiejim]

If the valve stem is bent then it won't take long for it to damage the valve guide. This could mean increased oil usage etc or worse, the valve sticking in the guide if it all overheats and picks up.

However, it seems odd that you should have bent a valve stem just by turning the engine over. It may just be that you have a high spot on the stem or some wear in the valve guides which means that it's not moving freely.

If you were looking at having to change the valve anyway, I think I would pop out the suspect valve, check it against a straight edge and see what it feels like without the pressure of the spring on it.

[plumAJP]

I will remove the valve tonight and put it back in without the spring and slide in and out of the valve guide to see if it moves in and out freely. ill also compare it to another valve and a straight edge.

ill measure the clearance also, but i know the vlave seats perfect as i filled the bore with water and none of it seeped through.

Thanks for your advice chaps

[Steve_T]

Stick the valve in a drill and spin it up (pillar drill is ideal), you'll soon see if it's not straight.

[fatjon]

When in doubt take it out! Appply sods law to the situation, what can go wrong will go wrong. The consequences could be a lot more expensive later and you will always be waiting for it to happen.

[plumAJP]

the drill tip is a good one, cheers. but to be on the safe side i think i will get a new valve as if it snapped then good by piston or if it wears the valve guide then hello to more time off the road.

for the sake of £16 for a valve i amy aswel.

just to confirm as im away from the car now, the smaller of the valves is the inlet right?

[pjenni12]

Small valve is exhaust, large is inlet.

[plumAJP]

pheww i just found out by asking tvr power. I said I needed the smaller of the 2 and he said it would be the exhaust so ive ordered one £15.50 not too bad

[Billy_rfc]

You order a head gasket to? If your gonna change the valve you will have to change the gasket.

[plumAJP]

yes mate, both heads off, 2 new gaskets, the full hog