AHA! I know why but what's the fix?

I tried this to see if I could isolate what was sticking. I'm not sure but this might be of some help to others????

1. Removed both inspection plates.
2. Got the lift stuck and left the position control lever all the way up.
3. turned engine off and reached into left side.
4. pushed in on exhaust valve lever. I could see the valve control arm move back and feel the spring in the exhaust valve compress but the lift wouldn't go down.

Sooooo it HAS to be the exhaust valve is sticking,,,,, ,,, right?

Now, I've seen some comments in the archives about honing the bushing and polishing the valve. Please don't think I'm stupid but I've never had to hone a 1/2" hole. How do go about doing that????

Also, one comment said use emery cloth to clean up the valve. Is that safe? Or should I get something finer? If so, any suggestions as to a product would be helpful.

Last but not least. Could the valve being too small in diameter cause the sticking? I would think that would cause a loss of pressure and cause the lift to bleed down rather than stick.

OK, one more (I promise). I know some people who get things chromed to increase the diameter slightly and snug up the fit inside bushings etc. Any opinions???

Thanks for all the suggestions - so far :-)

RT.

It is possible that the return spring in the control valve is weak or broken but doubtful as this is a rare occurance.

The valve is sticking because of grit that has been or is in the control valve. If you haven't already done it I would suggest that you drain the oil at the lift drain in the pump and pour in 5 gallons of Kerosene. Let the kerosene settle and pour it through again. Do this till there is not settling residue after the kerosene had settled.

Re fill with new oil and try it again.

Hmmmm, I thought the exhaust valve had to go in (which lets the intake valve out) to let the lift down so pushing on the opposite side of the control valve rocker (not the ring side) would be the same as moving the position control lever down.

Anyway, I have tried the kerosene with no change in operation. I'm going to drop the pump and see if I can clean up the valves somehow.

The search continues :-)

Thanks,

Roger.