Valve Spring Compressor Suggestions

[cp[mike]]

anybody have any recommendations on a good valve spring compressor to buy? there are many different brands and styles, and never having used any of them before, id like some input from people who have experience as to which style works best. this will be used mostly on H22s, occasionally F22s (less important). if you could provide a link that would help also. im looking for something simple and affordable (im not looking for a $237894 snapon kit) that isnt going to break on me.

thanks guys!

[bruno8747]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Valve...spagenameZWDVW

Thats the one I use now, Its pretty good, It can get into the tight pocket of the h22 and has enough room to use it on the F22. Not bad price wise either, I paid like $40 shipped for mines brand new.

The only thing I really did was put some tape at the ends of the attachments, They tend to scratch up titanium retianers.

[Chrisisiced]

They tend to scratch up titanium retianers.

[foamypirate]

OK... Why do you think he taped the ends? All I can say, is don't get the Autozone type...I barely had enough room to use it on an F22 head, let alone an H22 head.

[Boost_Lee]

my friend owns a shop did mine. He had a very unique tool to use.
The tool looked like a metal cylinder (like a handle or a peg from a bike)
On the end of it, it had a hole with a magnet. place this on top of the valve spring assembly, hit with a hammer and the keepers get caught in the magnet and the retainer pops right off.
To place the valve spring assembly back together, the tool has a protruding piece on the end which you use to push the assembly back down to compress the spring.

Literally took 5 minutes to take off the valvetrain and about 15 minutes to put it back together.

[cp[mike]]

ive actually heard that solid cylinder is the best one also... but ive also seen the ones that bolt down onto the head that have a pivoting lever which would add a lot of leverage and make it a lot easier to compress stiffer springs... though the thing i do not like about either of these is that they require something to be holding the valves up from underneath. which i guess isnt a huge deal, but still...

i like the full clamp style that bruno posted... i used a big C-clamp and a socket to remove springs before, but the sockets are closed and it makes it impossible to set locks in place, so this would probably work pretty well.

any other suggestions and input? im really only going to be using this with heads that are already removed.

[N9netwoAccord]

ive used the ones with the lever you're talking about it, they're alright... my only complaint is when you're trying to put the valve keepers back on, trying to get the right angle can be a bitch if that tools in the way... the positive thing to that tool is it does go to the underside of the head and hold the valve in place so you don't need anything else to.

[Boost_Lee]

ive actually heard that solid cylinder is the best one also... but ive also seen the ones that bolt down onto the head that have a pivoting lever which would add a lot of leverage and make it a lot easier to compress stiffer springs... though the thing i do not like about either of these is that they require something to be holding the valves up from underneath. which i guess isnt a huge deal, but still...

i like the full clamp style that bruno posted... i used a big C-clamp and a socket to remove springs before, but the sockets are closed and it makes it impossible to set locks in place, so this would probably work pretty well.

any other suggestions and input? im really only going to be using this with heads that are already removed.

true...we just balled up some rags hehe

this can be an issue if the head is on the block tho, lol

[wed3k]

i use the c-clamp style at work. i can assemble the springs and locks in about 15 minutes

[almostJDM]

im in the same boat as you are mike lol i just bought this Valve spring compressor off ebay its the kind that bolts to the head the listing said it would work for a B16/18 and H22 so i hope it will ill let ya know when i get it

[94Si]

zip tie

[almostJDM]

zip tie

hmmm wtf that could work lol compressthe spring zip tie the coils lay then out the spirings in the head and put the keepers in lol, then move your head away from the head cut the tie and pray for the best lol, it could work, hmmmm

[19dabeast85]

I've used the type that are just a "C" shape with long arms to reach around the head......worked great and pretty safe also.

zip ties....lol

[cp[mike]]

i ended up purchasing the c-arm style one bruno posted tonight. ill let you know how it works out. im thinking of dipping the ends of the attachments into that rubberized tool handle dip.

[bruno8747]

i ended up purchasing the c-arm style one bruno posted tonight. ill let you know how it works out. im thinking of dipping the ends of the attachments into that rubberized tool handle dip.

You dont even need to, Its just thats its metal ends and metal retainers so its bound to move around a little. I just put some masking tape around the end of the attachment to keep it steady and it worked fine.

The C clamp style like I showed you is the best one I've seen to use on the F and H heads, Because you can get into the pockets and it will hold the valve also, Unlike the stud mount ones that you need to put something under the valve.

But it does take a little longer than the stud mount ones to compress the valve, because you actually have to turn the handle a few times and then back off again. But it gets the job done. And I just just a socket to bang the old keepers out also, Thats the quickest way.