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EngineProfessional-Q3 2016 IPDarticle Smaller
EngineProfessional-Q3 2016 IPDarticle Smaller
was set.
Examples
• Tight valve lash holds valves open and wears the valve tip
• Loose valve lash increases the closing speed and stress on the
valve
• Can also give insight into
of Reported
the condition of the rocker
assembly
Valve Failures
and guides can give you an
idea of:
• Side loading
• Clearances and lubrication
• Overheating
BY STEVE SCOTT
Engines don’t typically fail at the most opportune time, or in On the valve face you’re
the most convenient locations, so gathering facts, recording looking for:
• Proper seating
conditions, preserving parts, and analyzing evidence can be
• Impact damage
a real challenge. Lab analysis, material analysis, dimensional
• Cupping of the valve face or
specifications, and material testing are important in failure
seat
analysis, but often a more “hands-on” approach can help to
identify the root cause. Attention to small details can make a
Two high stress areas on the
difference in finding the true root cause of a failure.
valve are the fillet radius and the
Some common reasons for misdiagnosing an engine failure
keeper (lock) grooves.
include:
• Not clearly understanding the complaint or problem Concentricity between the valve train components is critical!
• Preconceived opinions
• Evidence being discarded or destroyed
Following are some
• Not gathering and organizing the facts
examples of valve failures
• Not recording and observing the facts
• Not taking time to logically go through the evidence that can be diagnosed with a
more hands on approach.
One important area in an engine that can pose a challenge in • When a valve breaks
the diagnosis of an engine failure is the valve train. For example, in the fillet radius, it is
following are some areas you can inspect that can help you often thought that “the
understand how a valve was operating. weld failed”. However, the
weld is typically higher up
the valve stem, and not in
the fillet radius. The photo
below shows a valve that
separated at the weld.
The pin magnet on the
complete valve indicates the
line between the magnetic
stem and the non-magnetic
valve head section. The
pin magnet is a simple way
to find the weld line, but
it does not work on all
valves, and not all valves are
welded. In most cases, the
failure of the weld is very
rare.
• Having all of the parts
involved in a failure is very
important. Don’t focus
solely on the broken part.
(continued)
www.engineprofessional.com 71
VALVE FAILURES
BY STEVE SCOTT
A valve failure would not loosen the head of a bolt or a Further inspection found
nut, but everything in this failure can be directly contributed to that the rocker arm shaft broke
damage caused by an engine ingesting this type of an object. directly through the oil passage
This example of a reported valve failure is from a 3306 Cat that lubricates the rocker arm,
engine that failed shortly after being rebuilt. resulting in seizure of the
rocker bushing.
In this application the
bottom of this stanchion has
an alignment dowel that fits
into a hole in the cylinder
head. Inspection of that
dowel found that it had not
aligned properly, and was
trapped between the stanchion
and cylinder head. With the
stanchion not sitting flat on
the cylinder head, it created
enough force to break the
rocker arm shaft. And with the
break being inside the bore of
the rocker arm, the arm could
not move correctly resulting in
the valve contacting the piston.
The dowel in the stanchion was
the root cause of the failure.
www.engineprofessional.com 73
VALVE FAILURES
BY STEVE SCOTT
in the lock, which confirms that the stem (tip included) were then hot combustion gasses are allowed to pass into the intake
intact when the impact occurred. The damage to the intake valve or exhaust port, resulting in overheating the valve. This reduces
lock supports that the lock came out of position prior to the tip clearances and can deplete the oil film between the stem and
of the valve breaking. guide causing the valve to stick. Likewise, the majority of the
Overheating can also weaken a valve and cause it to fail. If valves’ heat is transferred through to the seat, so anything
the valve is even slightly held open when it should be closed, trapped between the seat and the valve face reduces the valves
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