Posted By: jst19600
valve spring removal with head on - 12/15/13 09:27 PM
Im trying to remove the valve springs with heads on engine.I purchased a valve spring removal tool that bolts to the rocker shaft stands.Ive hooked up my air compressor to the spark plug hole and have aired it up to 120 psi but the valve still goes down and it wont break free from the retainer.Need suggestions on what i should try,do not want to pull heads off.
Posted By: Tempest
Re: valve spring removal with head on - 12/15/13 09:34 PM
Tap retainer w/ rubber mallet and try again.
Also, I prefer the rope method and TDC but that's just me. If you lose air pressure for any reason, you are pulling the head.
Posted By: John_Kunkel
Re: valve spring removal with head on - 12/15/13 09:37 PM
I like to use a shot-filled hammer on a deep-well socket placed on the retainer instead of hitting the retainer directly.
Posted By: jst19600
Re: valve spring removal with head on - 12/15/13 09:42 PM
Do i have enough air pressure?Whats the minimum i can safely have without dropping the valve?I do have the cylinder at TDC.
Posted By: stumpy
Re: valve spring removal with head on - 12/15/13 09:49 PM
Plenty enough pressure. The piston won't be at TDC it will be all the way down. The air pressure pushes it down when it pressurizes the cylinder. Tapping the retainer lightly will release any varnish holding it in place.
Posted By: 64Post
Re: valve spring removal with head on - 12/15/13 11:26 PM
I don’t use rope or air. I bring #1 to TDC and use the 180º method, which brings 2 pistons to TDC simultaneously. I’ll smack the retainers with a socket, then do 4 valves at a time. Turn the crank 180º and repeat on the next pair of cylinders.
Posted By: therocks
Re: valve spring removal with head on - 12/16/13 12:05 AM
If the pistons are down it the hole and not a zero deck the valve will drop.I almost always use air even when I did them at the shop.Ive used the rope a few times.Last time we did them on the kids 413 it took about an hour to do all 8 cylinders.Rocky
Posted By: stumpy
Re: valve spring removal with head on - 12/16/13 12:28 AM
Down in the hole means the piston isn't at the top edge of cylinder which all not all pistons are at TDC. A zero deck piston is at the top of the cylinder at TDC but most stock pistons are not zero deck. They are below the top by a good bit in some low compression motors.
Posted By: jst19600
Re: valve spring removal with head on - 12/16/13 01:14 AM
Thanks for the help,got them all changed.I brought each cylinder up to its TDC and used a breakover bar on my rachet to stop the crank bolt from turning.
Posted By: jst19600
Re: valve spring removal with head on - 12/16/13 02:24 AM
Yes,whapped them a few times with a socket and mallet and they came free.Now these new valves springs better better correct my performance issue i had this year.
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: valve spring removal with head on - 12/16/13 04:39 AM
You already took care of it but as said I just put a socket on the retainer & give the socket a good rap with a medium hammer so the retainer/locks/valve ain't frozen to each other then compress the retainer/spring like you were originally doing. If they're still stuck put the socket up there again & hit it harder. A pencil or telescoping magnet works good for retrieving the keepers
John Kunkels method works well on seperating the keepers from the retainers