Pushrod question?

I was checking my 3/8 cup and ball Manton pushrods for cracks and strightness. While I was doing that I noticed that they had become magnetized. WHY? I know when I was a kid you could take a nail and hit it in the middle and it would become magnetized. What could cause this in the pushrods? Everything is grounded just like MSD requires the 44 AMP MAG to be. I also see no signs of any grouding issues in the bearings or any were else. Has anyone else seen this before?

 

Magnetized Pushrods

I have very little experience with this issue. It could be the result of ongoing impact but highly unlikely. If you call Manton Pushrod at 951 245-6565 and ask for Terry he will go over the problem with you.

Noel Manton

 

Thanks for the number

 

Todd,

How about the rocker arm aduster?

Brad Hiatt

 

I did not check it. I will and let you know what I find out

 

I spoke with Terry today and he explained to me in great detail what may have happened to cause the pushrods to become magnetized, regardless they are not supposed to be.
I have already gone to a machine shop and had them de-magnetized. I look forward to seeing all of the new products they have to offer at the PRI show.

Thanks for the help

 

What do you figure caused it? Just curious because it sounds like something that doesn't come up too often.

 

I would worry that with a magnetized pushrod cup that metallic trash would be attracted to it and not be flushed out with the oil. That could explain the occasional pushrod cup/adjuster failure out the the clear blue sky?
Dave Germain

 

Sometimes grinding process' during manufacturing will magnetize the piece that you are grinding. If a few were missed they could have gotten out like this unnoticed.

We did alot of work to my rockerarm shafts to make sure we are geting plenty of oil up to the push rod. I like the mods that PSI can do for you but thes are really sensitive to position of the adjuster position.

We didn't scuff a pushrod all year but we were not turning 10K either.

How is the new car working out?

My wife and I have really been missing Oklahoma and the Rezner team.

Brad Hiatt

 

I found this at The U.S. Department of Energy web site.
It would be reasonable to assume that a failed valve spring, excess valve lash, or valve control loss of any kind could cause a pushrod to become magnetized.




Creating Magnets by Tapping
1/9/2004

name Harry S. D.
status other
age 40s

Question - When I was about 15 years old I read an article concerning magnetizing
various items. One of the things I read
concerned magnetizing iron or steel [rods] by pointing them to magnetic north and
striking the south pole end with a metal hammer. I tried it and it worked . . . then!
It did not make a strong magnet, but, it was strong enough to pick up finishing nails
and small screws. I figured I would show this "neat trick" to my kids, and voila . . .
it did not work. Did I dream this or should this in fact work? I did exactly what the
article said when I was a kid, it worked then, am I missing something now?
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Assuming that we are not having a N-pole, S-pole reversal, I think that the probable
reason is that you used a different kind of iron/steel. Not all types of iron/steel
are equally easy to magnetize. In general you want what is referred to as a "soft"
iron. The domains that align to magnetize the bar are more easily oriented by pounding
the rod with a hammer. Some types of steel, certain grades of stainless for example,
are very difficult to magnetize.

Vince Calder