lower portion of the lower insert 24 and a pin 34 affixed to the push rod 14 in normal pump operation the push rod 14 is in its relaxed position and production fluid flows through the backflush valve without undue restriction the upper end 16 of the push rod may be used in combination with a gas locking relief device not shown such as that described in co owned u s application ser no 13 583 667 entitled downhole gas release apparatus the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference where permitted in this case an adapter 40 may be fitted to the upper end of the push rod to facilitate its interaction with a gas locking relief device a nut not shown or stop formed on the pushrod may be used to limit travel of the pushrod by bearing on the top of an insert 24 too much force on the pushrod may bend the rod or damage the standing valve when installed in a downhole pump assembly and during production the backflush valve 10 does not influence either the traveling valve or the standing valve production fluid bypasses the valve 10 through the flow passages in a backflush operation the pump is collapsed by letting the sucker rods fall to the bottom as a result the traveling valve falls toward its lowest point and the traveling valve ball contacts the top of the push rod 14 either directly or indirectly and is thus unseated the traveling valve then urges the push rod 14 downwards compressing the spring 22 as shown in fig3 and moving the ball wedge 20 into contact with the standing valve ball displacing it off.