Heat Riser - Free or Keep Frozen?

Samplingman

Old Man with a Hat
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Just as the title says. I’d love to get it to work, but after a week of soaking, it doesn’t budge. All the parts look decent and the springs are still functioning.

Has anyone ever gotten these to free up, or is it just cut and weld? It is stuck in the open position, so without any other ideas, I’ll reinstall as is. The way I understand it is, it only comes into play during warm up, but doesn’t affect drivability.

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Just as the title says. I’d love to get it to work, but after a week of soaking, it doesn’t budge. All the parts look decent and the springs are still functioning.

Has anyone ever gotten these to free up, or is it just cut and weld? It is stuck in the open position, so without any other ideas, I’ll reinstall as is. The way I understand it is, it only comes into play during warm up, but doesn’t affect drivability.

View attachment 379485 View attachment 379486

I'd leave it as long as its not leaking. That'll haunt you.
 
I'd leave it as long as its not leaking. That'll haunt you.
Yeah, it’s pretty much frozen solid, but you never know. I’m afraid if I did free it up it might cause more problems than it’s worth. The one you got from me, did that one leak or did it fix the issue? I think that one was stuck too.
 
I believe they should be operational where you have cold starts in cold climates. How much the drivabilty bothers you under those conditions determines whether to attack it or not.
My OCD requires me to get it working properly even here in FL.
If the manifold is on the bench, I find them relatively easy to get working again.
 
I’d leave it be. Chances are you get that thing moving enough to actually operate smoothly the combo of the pitted shaft and bore will cause a loose fit and an annoying leak.
 
Yeah, it’s pretty much frozen solid, but you never know. I’m afraid if I did free it up it might cause more problems than it’s worth. The one you got from me, did that one leak or did it fix the issue? I think that one was stuck too.


Not sure, I installed a set on my blue 71 11 years ago. That one leaked where it goes through the manifold. I couldn't stand it.
I do not recall where that set came from
 
I believe they should be operational where you have cold starts in cold climates. How much the drivabilty bothers you under those conditions determines whether to attack it or not.
My OCD requires me to get it working properly even here in FL.
If the manifold is on the bench, I find them relatively easy to get working again.
Yes, that’s what my problem is, I’ve been determined to get all the parts working even if it means it’ll do more harm than good. That’s why this build is going on year 10, lol.
 
I’d leave it be. Chances are you get that thing moving enough to actually operate smoothly the combo of the pitted shaft and bore will cause a loose fit and an annoying leak.
That’s what I was thinking too, but then there is that OCD thing that Stan mentions. So, what is the best way to free it up, just in case I wanted to?
 
Try the Candle wax trick, heat it up hot then get some cheap *** birthday candles and touch the shaft it will wick in. Freaking amazing. Old machinist trick look it up.
 
Leave it as it is and consider it a blessing!

When they get loose the can clatter like bad engine noise and everyone will stare in parking lots.

Your car should be able to start and run just fine in cold weather without it. Mine do.
 
If it were me and I didn't have a particular reason to keep the car totally stock, I'd get rid of the whole dang thing, thread the two holes and put bolts in them or braze them closed. One less doohickey to worry about causing trouble down the road...
 
Mine is frozen with the flapper missing. When it's a little cold, it stumbles a bit when it first starts, but once it's on the road, it's fine by the first stop sign. I don't have the choke working either and the cross over is blocked. If I did something with the choke, I probably wouldn't have any problem at all.

IMHO, with the ethanol laced gas, I think that it's a little better not to have the manifold heat.
 
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