Make your own valve spring compressor for $15

[BLACK94TT]

. Looking to lower the risk of losing a keeper - perhaps a powerful magnet on the tool that presses down on the valve retainer.

That was one of my worst fears. I had paper towels stuffed in every orifice on the head. I also had couple of sets of new ones on hand just in case some decided to go flying across the garage.

[cbatters]

Originally Posted by BLACK94TT

That was one of my worst fears. I had paper towels stuffed in every orifice on the head. I also had couple of sets of new ones on hand just in case some decided to go flying across the garage.

Ideal case is to have a magnet that automatically "snatches" the keepers when the retainer is depressed so all you do is tighten/loosen the tool and you end up with the keepers safely stuck to the magnet.


Clint

[cbatters]

Originally Posted by skunkworks

ok - here is the plan.
1 you do your valve stems this weekend.
2 I paypal you a shipping and rental amount
3 I do my valve stems next weekend.

Sounds like a plan to me
sam

I'm sure we can work something out. I am going to replace the rear VSS this weekend - the real test of the tool where access/visibility is much more restricted.

(I think I may have come up with a easy mod for a common tool that will make it much easier to remove the old VSS. I will test this on the front bank tonight before tackling the rear back tomorrow morning.)


Clint

[skunkworks]

That will work good as this weekend I will be looking for my oil leak.
engine oil leak drivers side of bay

If I find out I have to take the timing belt off to fix it (cam seals or main etc..) Then I will not need your tool as I can get the cams off at that point.

btw - I do puff blue smoke according to my wife.

thanks for all your work.
sam

Originally Posted by cbatters

I'm sure we can work something out. I am going to replace the rear VSS this weekend - the real test of the tool where access/visibility is much more restricted.

(I think I may have come up with a easy mod for a common tool that will make it much easier to remove the old VSS. I will test this on the front bank tonight before tackling the rear back tomorrow morning.)


Clint

[cbatters]

Originally Posted by skunkworks

That will work good as this weekend I will be looking for my oil leak.
engine oil leak drivers side of bay

If I find out I have to take the timing belt off to fix it (cam seals or main etc..) Then I will not need your tool as I can get the cams off at that point.

btw - I do puff blue smoke according to my wife.

thanks for all your work.
sam

Good luck finding your leak (I will take a look at the thread later this AM)

The driving force behind developing this tool was to decouple the VSS replacement from other maintenance. Pleasantly surprised that replacing VSS is only ~2X the effort of changing the plugs.

MAGNETS
Found a couple crescent shaped Neodymium magnets that I removed a while ago from a hard drive. At least on a bench, the magnets do a great job of snatching the keepers as soon as the valve stem is raised above the retainer. MUCH lower risk than trying to grab them with needle nose pliers and not drop one into the engine.

On the last cylinder I did, I used a pair of needle nose pliers and dabbed the keepers in grease before placing them on the valve stem - It worked OK on the front bank but there was the obvious risk of dropping a keeper. Given my recent suuccess with magnets, I will try using a magnet to install the keepers.


Clint

[skunkworks]

any update? Good luck.

May your valve spring retainers fall where they are easy to retrieve.

sam

edit - I got a tag in the mail saying that my 3rd gen lifters are at the post office. My valves stem and valve cover seals should be here next week. kind of excited.

[cbatters]

BAD NEWS
I dropped an intake valve into the cylinder. (Rubber washer I attached to the top of the valve came off while I was removing one of the springs allowing the vallve to drop into the cylinder. So to answer an earlier question, I now know 100% that it is possible to drop a valve into the cylinder.)

GOOD NEWS
I was about ready to pull the head when I decided to try fishing the valve out of the cylinder. Short version - I GOT IT!! Easy to do once you perfect the technique.) I'll post the long version in another thread.

I am now using a strong nylon string to keep the valve from falling.

MORAL TO STORY
Worth the extra time to make sure the cylinder is at TDC - Just in case....



Clint

[cbatters]

BAD NEWS
I dropped an intake valve into the cylinder. (Rubber washer I attached to the top of the valve came off while I was removing one of the springs allowing the vallve to drop into the cylinder. So to answer an earlier question, I now know 100% that it is possible to drop a valve into the cylinder.)

GOOD NEWS
I was about ready to pull the head when I decided to try fishing the valve out of the cylinder. Short version - I GOT IT!! Easy to do once you perfect the technique.) I'll post the long version in another thread.

I am now using a strong nylon string to keep the valve from falling.

MORAL TO STORY
Worth the extra time to make sure the cylinder is at TDC - Just in case....



Clint

[skunkworks]

cool - though you fished the the valve back up into the valve guide? Impresive. (was a magnet involved though the vavle guide? - my thought)

MORAL TO STORY
Worth the extra time to make sure the cylinder is at TDC - Just in case....

are you saying that if the cylinder was at tdc you would not have had the valve fall in? That was my question.


sam

[cbatters]

Originally Posted by skunkworks

cool - though you fished the the valve back up into the valve guide? Impresive. (was a magnet involved though the vavle guide? - my thought)

are you saying that if the cylinder was at tdc you would not have had the valve fall in? That was my question.


sam

Magnet - Yes

TDC - Would have saved several hours of frustration.

Thios event is forcing me to re-think the viability of removing/reinstalling the VSS without removing the valve springs (which involves lowering the valves with pressure removed - VERY RISKY!!!)


Clint