Replaced the head on my beater - 91 Integra LS (170k miles, 80k on the head). It had thrown a timing belt previously. Got everything all back together and I was turning the engine over by the crank pulley - to test out the Tbelt. Every 2 full turns (720 degrees) it would make this loud snap. I watched the cams and saw that one of the intake valves on #2 was sticking and not coming back up with the cam profile. Im assuming after the piston touched the valve it would unstick it and snap it back in place.

Is that the symptom of a stuck valve? Perhaps this is something I can fix without taking off the head since I just put that stinking head gasket on and I havent even turned the car on yet - I dont want to throw it away! Any ideas? Maybe some WD-40?

 

Perhaps when the belt broke initially, the valve was slightly bent?

Mark

 

If the valve is sticking it is probly bent, or the valve guide is messed up. Anyways you look at it you have to take that head off to repair it. The gasket will still be good if you havent turned on the car.

 

This is a used head from another B18A1.

Ultimatehonda, your probably right. Anything else that could cause the spring to not come back up?

 

Thats the only thing I can think of. I would just take it apart and look at it cause theres really nothing u can do with the head on the car. If you do find the valve is bent, you may want to check out the valve guide, it may be worn out.

 

Ultimate is right you have to take the head off and inspect everything. IMO, if a valve is bent enough to actually become stuck you will need a new guide for sure.

 

crap I guess Ill be pulling the head... AGAIN.
Thanks for the responses!

 

no need to pull the head. do the following...take off the valve cover take out all the spark plugs set the piston that you're worried about to TDC take an air tank full of air and blow some air through the plug hole, listen for whistling, and check the TB to feel if any air is coming out, and while you're at it check the exhaust that'll let you know if an exhaust valve is bent

edit: ohh and tap the top of the valves with a hammer while you do it just to make sure everthing is seated...and you've gotta take off the valve train to do this as well

 

Are you saying to do this to test if its a bent valve?

its sticks so it has to be replaced no matter what right? at least the valve guide.
When I had the head off I was cleaning up the surfaces on the bottom of the head and I didnt notice any damage - would a bent valve be visable?

 

I didnt know the valve was just one big long peice. So do you guys think I need to replace just part #2? (1 intake valve) Is there anything else nessecary I need to replace?

 

I had the same problem a few weeks ago, but it happened after I adjusted the valves - think the valve stems were just getting weak because the head has 270,000 miles on it. I have 5 that were sticking, was able to use a prybar to get 4 of them unstuck - 5th I couldn't. Give that a try.

 

It unsticks itself when the piston hits it from the bottom, causing the valve (rocker arm) to snap back to the cam lobe. Im wondering if I can take it apart from the top and clean it or something.

 

Well, in my case I knew that I was looking at some major money because if I was going to remove the head, I would have to rebuild it. If I rebuilt the head, I would need to rebuild the bottom-end because it has 270,000 miles as well. I took my chances with that one sticking valve, and yes - the piston was hitting it, but I was just hoping that if I drove it for a few miles I would wear the valve guide enough to prevent it from sticking.

Well, I didn't get that lucky, I think part of the valve broke, and bounced around on top of the piston - pretty much destroyed the spark plug.

Good news is I no longer have a stuck valve - bad knews is that it has hesitation and now has water in the oil - ouch, either cracked the head or have a bad head gasket.

O well, bought another car and will drop in a new engine in the Prelude once my broken wrist is healed.

 

thanks for the replies.

Can I just replace the single valve stem or is there anything else that should be properly replaced at this time? thanks

 

it'll be really hard to spot a bent valve even after pulling it out and looking at it its hard to spot, they don't bend very much. If you do get a new valve remember the valve grinding compound and such so you can properly seat the sucker

 

Will I need a new valve guide and possibly a new seal too?