How many of you guys use Tool Steel Retainers. I fitted some up a couple of years ago but I keep thinking they're too small even tho I'm using the recommended part # retainers.

I use them quite often..... Never had a problem.

My Manley retainers made specifically for the Isky RAD-9999 springs look similar in how they cover the spring.

I don't have a problem with the retainer as such but the springs seem to chip the end of the spring off as you can see in my pic.

That's good to know as I kinda feel the the retainer is too small. The springs all tend to chip the uncovered end off. I might grind these bits next time round n see if that helps.

In my mind, if the ends of the spring are breaking off, it's an issue with the spring.

That being said, I don't see anything unusual in your pic.

i use to run titainium retainers but they were just touching the underside of my rocker arms. when i replaced the rocker arms after 8 years of use, i changed to the Tool Steel retainers to give more clearance. i change springs every second season & we noticed the first set we changed after we moved to Tool Steel, the tails on some springs had snapped off too, just as i'm seeing on this set. it seems to be on their second season we find this failure & we keep using the same brand of spring. Never had this issue when i ran Titainium but the Titainium retainers covered the whole top of the spring circle. when cruising the pits & i past the Nitro guys, one team i noted had ground the ends into a curved end, i thought that might be the trick to try next time.

What springs are you running?

Some of the special light weight titanium retainers are also as small in diameter as the tool steel ones.

Comp 955's.

Try a PAC 1245...... You might have better luck with those. It's basically the same spring.

I've been running them a while and do look a little small but, haven't had any issues.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tfs-16943-16
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-1732-16

I don't think your retainers are large enough... I think any hard use will break that spring tang.

As long as the OD of the retainer covers half the wire diameter of the spring, you are good. If spring tips are breaking off, it is not the correct spring for the combination, tips that turn blue are telling you the exact same thing.

the thing is i've been using these type of springs for a decade but only noticed problems when we changed to the tool steel retainers, & the problem only surfaces on the second season of use, at first we thought they had gone soft but thats not the problem, they test up ok & we're not seeing any signs of valve float.

Test the theory...... Change the retainers.

MAYBE the added weight of the steel retainer is just enough to cause some harmonics and or spring surge. But how much of spring is covered by retainer is a NON issue. Like was said..........change em and see.