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Cal-look/High Performance => Pure racing => Topic started by: vintagewagenwerks on May 30, 2012, 15:20:02 pm



Title: shorten`pushrods
Post by: vintagewagenwerks on May 30, 2012, 15:20:02 pm
Hi guys next days my valve train get some Manton HD pushrods they must be cut to another length.Can you tell me what is the best way to do this without a lathe.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience to me


Title: Re: shorten`pushrods
Post by: jaqo on May 30, 2012, 20:35:08 pm
A lathe:D
You can do it with a hacksaw but it's very tricky to do them straight.


Title: Re: shorten`pushrods
Post by: Taylor on May 30, 2012, 21:07:11 pm
I don't think anyone should do it at home, or at least with hand tools.  I know its far away,  but if you call them and get them assembled by them, the price is the same as everyone sells cut to length ones for.  Not worth the effort


Title: Re: shorten`pushrods
Post by: vintagewagenwerks on May 30, 2012, 23:20:50 pm
i explained doing this work with a band saw bolted in a saw table


Title: Re: shorten`pushrods
Post by: neil68 on May 31, 2012, 05:40:22 am
I've shortened several sets of Mantons, just using a good quality hacksaw with a high-carbon steel medium-tooth blade.

To keep the blade straight while cutting, I first use a pipe cutting hand tool to create the initial "ring" around the pushrod.

After a few turns (tightening the adjuster slightly after each turn) you will have a ring to "start" the hacksaw blade.  Cut smoothly and block the cut with a vise to prevent slipping.

Clean up the end with a file, blow it out with air and tap in the ball with a pair of old lifters.

It takes about 3-4 minutes per pushrod to finish them nicely ;)


Title: Re: shorten`pushrods
Post by: vintagewagenwerks on May 31, 2012, 08:10:23 am
Oh that is a very good idea using a pipe cutter for getting a

 cut


Title: Re: shorten`pushrods
Post by: DWL_Puavo on May 31, 2012, 09:57:12 am
A bench belt sander is a very useful tool to straighten the ends of hacksaw-cutted pushrods. I've got no problems with several sets of hacksaw / file / belt sander shortened steel pushrods.

I found also this: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/archive/index.php/o-t--t-284155--.html which sounds frightening but it seems that the results are very good. This I've got to try this summer with a bench drill :) Yet another unorthodox use for the bench drill!