Hey mates.

I have the problem that on my newly rebuilt A14 engine, the pushrod of the 4th cylinder keeps bending. I already installed a new one, but after some time it bent again as well. The first time, I also replaced the valve, even though the old one wasn’t bent, however, heavily carboned up. That’s why I suspect the valve might be sticking. Today, three intake pushrods bent, while the exhaust side is not affected. I’m running out of ideas about what else it could be. I didn’t replace the timing chain, and I’m using a carburetor from an A12 that I still need to properly tune. Could it be that the carburetor is running too rich and causing the valves to stick?

So the first thing you need to do is figure out why.

There are only a few possibilities.

First is the camshaft stock?

If you have an after market cam the valves springs could be binding or the cam timing is off and the valves are making contact with the pistons. If you pull the plugs and look at the piston tops there will be telltale marks if the valves have touched the pistons.

Next were new valves guides installed?

Given the quality of aftermarket parts, the valves guides might need a slight reaming because the valves are sticking in the guides.

Do the rocker arms move freely? If the rockers are binding on the shaft the push rods can bend

You are going to likely have to pull the head.

Start by seeing if there are any marks on the pistons, check to make sure the springs aren't binding, then check the rocker shaft and if none of those are the issue you are going to have to pull the head. You'll need to take the valves springs off and make sure the valves move freely in the guides.