My friend Steve has the right tool. A nice Snap-On valve spring tool, meant to do the valves with the head still on using compressed air and all that good stuff. We got 8 / 16 done today. Lots of sore fingers, but I guess so far so good. Some of the valves are giving us a fit though. They just wont stay closed when we compress the spring. What can we do to help the retainer lock come free of the retainer? We've tried compressed air, magnets, plyers on the valve. Some are just very stubborn. Its eatting up much time!
We did learn to be brutal with the valve stem seals to remove them. Also bought a little pick set which helps in the tight spot. Also found a weaker magnet which makes reinstalling retainer locks easier, as well as prying the spring towards the 2nd retainer lock when installing.
Any advice? We're about a day behind schedule now.
Any tips on doing valve springs with the head on?
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DJpowerHaus
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Any tips on doing valve springs with the head on?
Getting the engine bolted in is about 10% of the way there.
The next 80% can go quickly with help and skill.
That last 10% takes about as long as the 90% that came before it.
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Bill Hincher
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You use a socket, large enough to depress the valve spring retainer and yet hollow enough to allow the keepers to come off........and you hit the socket with a hammer SQUARLEY so you dont bend a valve....cover all the holes in the head with a rag because the keepers have a tendency to ' flip' out.............even if the keepers stay in place after you hit the retaineer.......the shock of the blow loosens the retainer from the valve stem and then you can use the tool on the vallve spring and it will move freely then....it takes a ' touch' but it works great..........probably want to have the piston down from TDC when you do it.
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4g63mightymax
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Bill, that is exactly what I would have recommended. I have done valve seals on two 4G63's without remove the head and that is exactly how I did it. Tapping the valve retainers with a hammer shocks the keepers and makes the job a lot easier. Another recommendation I have is to make sure you block the oil holes in the head with a rag. I havent lost anything down there yet, but it could happen. Also, using a small magnet on the end of a thin metal rod works great for putting the keepers back in. These can be bought at a local parts store for cheap money.
Lastly, go buy a box of bandaids. Because the edges of the head are very sharp.
Good luck!
Jeremy
Lastly, go buy a box of bandaids. Because the edges of the head are very sharp.
Good luck!
Jeremy