The secondary rod "hangar" as its commonly referred to, could likely cause the rods/air valve to hang open.
It's pretty soft, unless it's bent other than where the two tabs the rods hang off it, just bend it right.
If the rods aren't worn through the chrome plating where they seat in the jets (you'll see it if they are, it will be a dark, rough ring that is obviously corrosion of the base metal) don't worry about replacing them. They can 't "go bad" by themselves, other than that wear/corrosion. Make sure the little hanger portion of the rods look the same, those are fairly easy to bend too.