Thread: Valve "holding" tool using compressed air, need help

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Thanks Denny!

Is it normal to have some air leakage?

Also, where do I buy one of those tools to turn the crank to turn over the engine without using the bolt. All 4 auto parts stores I tried today did not have one.

You want to make sure you have the piston at the top on compression stroke. Reason ? If the air seal breaks loose, the valve will drop.

You got that right!!!

Don't ask how I know, it still haunts me, even 35 years later!!

Compressing the spring, pull the retainers and the line from the compressor ruptures.

Thonk ,,, valve disappears into the abyss.

Valuable lesson for a 16 year old...

I tried the other day and I'm still having one hell of a time. When I rotated the engine so that the piston below the valves I was working on was at the top, the compressed air pushed it back down!

I don't want to pound on the locks, so until now, I have been unsuccessful. It doesn't help that the springs are crazy-stiff.

My next try is to enlist some help from a neighbor to pull on the bar, while I tap in the lock. If that does not work, I will get another type of tool which compresses the spring itself (not against the head using the stud).

a guy told me the other day they use to use rope in the cylinder filled up through the spark plug hole then as the piston is moved up the rope holds the valves and you dont need air just remember to leave some rope tied on the outside so you can get it out when the job is done

Thanks Denny a bunch.

I tried to use the Lisle brand spring compressor, but it slid of the springs very easily and simply did not work. Could you post a link or two to the type of spring compress tool you might suggest for me? Thanks again.

Denny (or anyone else), I was not planning to replace the valve guides, or the valve stem seals. Is this somethig I should do? I know the cost for parts, but don't know if I need any special tools and how hard it is.

I'm wondering if I should do this or not. Especially since I know a few of the valves/lifter/rockers were getting banged pretty hard.

Thanks in advance

Is this what you mean (between the spring itself or on the head between 2 springs?).

Those springs look like triple springs to me (but I don't know much about valve springs). Instead of remving the inner spring like Lunati suggested, I just decided to buy and install the correct springs for my cam (100lb seat pressure) and remove these. I will say they are a bitch to compress.

Anyhow, let me know what you see. As always, thanks!