Saito 180 Exhaust valve stuck

[billgw]

Background: This engine has "plenty" of hours on it. I bought it used and cannot be sure how many.

Story: Flew a single flight at a local field. Shut the engine down and pulled into the pits and re-fueled. Flipped the prop to discover no compression. De-fueled the plane and home I go.

Discovery: Pulled the valve covers. Found the exhaust valve jammed open and the pushrod jammed along side the rocker arm socket where it should rest. The rocker arms where sooted up and all looked extreemly dirty. The valve was then pulled up, but was very tight. Once I got the valve up, it then stuck and will NOT open again. I'm pressing very hard with a hard plastic tool and can not get it to free.

Resolution: Suggestions to keep me from taking it to a servicer would be appreciated. Thanks!

[w8ye]

Put some penetrating oil around the stem and work with it until you get it free and put the pushrod back in the socket of the rocker arm

Oil and or grease under both rocker covers

You might adjust the valves while you are at it .002" - .004"

[billgw]

Thanks, I have several penetrating oils for use with guns. Do you have any suggestions as to what might work with castor and ect.

[w8ye]

I would try the thinest most penetrating one to get the valve unstuck and then something heavier that will stay with the engine befor you run it.

[billgw]

Thanks, makes sense. I'll give it a go.

[TONY0707]

HI IF the valve is not moving freely it could be bent-if so putting it back together and attempting to run it can cause more damage--have some who knows these engines get a look at it---replacing a valve might save the engine from more damage-----TONY

[billgw]

Tony, I took it to a "local" expert. He had it running in less than 30 minutes. He was not "gentle" with the engine, but the results are excellent. I did not post that he manipulated the valve forcefully as I didn't want others to do this without the "experience" needed to make sure their procedure was successful, so I didn't follow up on how it came out.

It runs fine. Thanks

[TONY0707]

hi very glad to hear you are back in action

[Dewayne Vaughn]

I think you may need to find out why it failed in the first place.......

Was it just a piece of dirt in the valve guide? or maybe the engine had'nt been run in a long time and the oil in the guide had hardened?

One thing leads to another... have someone take it apart and find out ... better yet, saito's are easy to work on, have your local expert teach you to take it down and inspect it.

BTW, set your valves at .001-/0015 on that engine or you'll flat spot your cam. The newer cams are better than the old ones, but they will still flat spot if you dont run them tight.

[billgw]

Thanks, DV. I haven't checked them again since he re-set em. I appreciate the tip.

[powerlines]

This is one reason I tell all the peeps at our field to park a 4 stroke on the compression when storing or in travel..

[Dewayne Vaughn]

I use Dextron transmission fluid as an after-fun oil. I know theres new stuff out there thats supposed to work better....
It has all the right properties to cafegard your engine.
After you shut down for the day, pump some ( alot ) into the crankcase vent with a piece of fuel tubing.

Turn the motor over by hand about ten times. Invert and nose down the motor and dump some into the carb and turn it over another ten times.
You will save your bearings and lube your cam bushing and valve guides this way.
Cheap insurance for an expensive and great running engine.

Put a filter on your fuel can.... and another one on the airplane. Yhe fuel we buy today is dirty.