Hydrolic lifter springs

[66airVair]

Hi all,
I am rebuilding a 140 engine, and I’m noticing that all of the lifters are impossible to push inward by hand. How hard should it be to push the lifter spring down? Is it possible by hand?

[joelsplace]

Not if they are full of oil.
Dry they should be easy.

[Wittsend]

Yes, remember when the engine is running the (momentary) resistance to bleed down needs to overcome the pressure of the valve spring when the valves are fully open which can be in the hundreds of pounds. You aren't fighting the spring, it is more like the device that keeps the screen door closed where you are fighting the "bleed" when you want to close it in a hurry.

[Corventure Dave]

Over the decades, I have disassembled and worked over plenty of lifters.
Some may be locked up if the engine was overheated and STP oil treatment
was added at some time.
To compress a lifter, I use a bench vice. On the flat "toe" side of the lifter I
put a wood block to protect the wear surface. On the lifter top, I have a short
cut off push rod. About 1 inch long.
With these I can slowly press the lifter in the vice. It may take a bit of time, however
the lifter can be compressed enough to remove the retaining ring and then disassemble.

Corventure Dave