valve retainer removal

[jumpman83]

Is there any way to compress the spring enough to remove the valves using more typical tools than a valve spring compressor? I'm thinking squeeze the hell out of some needle nose pliers, but that sounds like something that'll turn out bad and I'm not going to be the one to investigate it...

[mrhonda]

I usually use a 14mm socket and a hammer. Place the socket on top of the valve spring (open side down) and wack it with the hammer. This is the fastest and easiest way to remove valve springs. Reinstalling them however, is a different story, you'll have to have a valve spring compressor for that.