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Tricks for valve retainer keepers?


I actually use my 20 ton shop press for doing head work.  It's the cat's
ass for doing valve guides, but it's also great for compressing valve
springs.  My special tool is a piece of aluminium cylinder that has the
same OD as the upper spring seat, with a nice large window cut out of the
cylinder for accessing the keepers.

I tried the drill press route once - it worked OK but required the use of 
an extra hand.  With the press the valve spring stays compressed by 
itself, leaving two hands free to cajole those damned keepers into the 
grooves on the valve.  I actually use a pair of long-nose needle nose 
pliers to drop the keepers into place - then when you let up on the valve 
spring gently the keepers are forced into the grooves by the upper spring 
seat.

VW heads fit wonderfully well on the platform of the press - and a chunk 
of 2X8 makes a good base to protect the bottom of the head.

Drew

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004, Neal Tovsen wrote:

> Now *that* is a freakin' cool idea I wouldn't have thought of.
> 
> Too bad my whimpy little 9-in drill press doesn't have enough room to
> hold a VW head. :(
> 
> Neal
> 
> On Fri, 2004-01-23 at 15:52, Mark wrote:
> > Thanks Dan!  That's a great idea!  I'll have to build me one...
> > 
> > I built a tool for my drillpress that works very well.  I set my head on
> > a small piece of plywood with 1/4" thick rubber "pucks" placed under the
> > valves (to keep them from falling when the spring is compressed), all on
> > my drillpress adjustable table.  You can use balled up paper towel
> > instead of the pucks.  Here's some oldschool ascii art on the tool:
> > 
> > 
> >         []
> >         []
> >         []
> >         []
> >         []
> >         []
> >         []   side view
> >         []
> >     ___/[]
> >   /_____[]
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >        _____
> >       / ___ \
> >      / /   \ \_
> >     | |     |{_}    top view (supposed to be round)  : )
> >      \ \___/ / 
> >       \_____/
> >       
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Adjust the table so the tool just clears everything.  Now drive down the
> > chuck holding the tool with the drillpress "spinning handle" until you
> > see the keys release.  If you make the ring at the bottom of the tool
> > taper from 1/4" to 1/2" there is plenty of strength there, and the keys
> > are easily accessible.
> > 
> > Mark.
> > 80 S
> > 81 S  2.0 ABA/JH/4K
> > 75    86,000 original miles (just found that out!)
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org [mailto:scirocco-l-
> > > bounces@scirocco.org] On Behalf Of Dan Bubb
> > > Sent: January 23, 2004 2:07 PM
> > > To: Neal Tovsen; Scirocco-L
> > > Subject: Re: Tricks for valve retainer keepers?
> > > 
> > > If you can use a C-clamp style spring compressor it will hold the
> > valve
> > > against the seat (and keep
> > > it from being bent!) and you can tap on the retainer to pop it free
> > from
> > > the keepers.
> > > I have a socket that is slightly smaller than the tappet bore in the
> > head
> > > with the center ground out
> > > so I can reach the keepers. Place the socket on top of the retainer,
> > > compress the spring with a
> > > C-clamp style spring compressor, tap on socket with hammer to pop out
> > the
> > > keepers.
> > > I think this approach should guarantee me a place in the "cheap-ass"
> > hall
> > > of fame!
> > > If you're not using a C-clamp type compressor I'd think you'd have no
> > > choice but to tap on the valve
> > > head.
> > > Dan
> > > 
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Neal Tovsen" <nealtovsen@yahoo.com>
> > > To: "Scirocco-L" <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
> > > Sent: Friday, January 23, 2004 1:49 PM
> > > Subject: Help: Tricks for valve retainer keepers?
> > > 
> > > 
> > > > (please CC me in your reply - I'm on digest mode and I don't want to
> > > > miss it)
> > > >
> > > > Anybody have tricks for getting the keepers off the valve? I've got
> > the
> > > > spring compressed, but the valve stem isn't sliding up to release
> > the
> > > > keepers. Seems to be stuck. Same for other valves I've tried. I
> > tried
> > > > some light taps on the valve face with a mallet but I don't want to
> > bend
> > > > the valve.
> > > >
> > > > I'm new at this. I don't see how I could be missing anything, and
> > the
> > > > Bentley makes it seem so simple...help!
> > > >
> > > > FYI, this is a hydro 8v head with some fancy-pants stainless custom
> > > > valves with 7mm (instead of usual 8mm) stems. I purchased the head
> > > > fully-assembled, so I haven't had to mess with it before.
> > > >
> > > > TIA!
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Neal Tovsen
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Scirocco-l mailing list
> > > > Scirocco-l@scirocco.org
> > > > http://neubayern.net/mailman/listinfo/scirocco-l
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > > Scirocco-l@scirocco.org
> > > http://neubayern.net/mailman/listinfo/scirocco-l
> > > 
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