darek_u

Will this one work on 944 head or the exposed part of spring is too short? Anybody has any experience with this type of tool?

Van

No, I've never used (or seen) that type.

When the head is off, I use a C-clamp style compressor. When the head is one the car, one like this works well.

darek_u

I was just wondering if I should give it a try or buy standard C clamp...

darek_u

Van the tool from your picture - can it be used on removed head too? With a piece of wood under valve or something similar?

darek_u

BTW what is the rope trick???

Dave W.

That tool does not work because it can't grip the inner spring.
I found a 6" C-clamp at the local hardware store that is just barely big enough to remove valves/springs with the head off the car.
The trick to using the top end only tool is the keepers are wedged into the retainer, so you need to tap the bottom of the valve to pop the keepers loose. Just make sure to tap the valve squarely along the centerline, don't risk bending a valve by hitting it on edge.

Thom

If the head is on, I saw no need for these (pricey) specific tools. I modified an angle bar, bent it slightly and drilled two holes in it. One hole towards the outer edge to pry on the retainer, the other hole holding the bar on the head, using a bolt/hole for the cam housing.

The trick is to make the bar long enough to have enough clamping force with one hand while removing retainers with the other hand, but short enough to clear the hood once doing rearmost valves.

All of this while blowing compressed air in cylinders, using a modified plug.

darek_u

I think I'll buy something similar to Van's tool, it's not so expensive (approx. $35, probably Chinese fake). The head has been already decked and valve seats lapped by machinist but I still have 2 valves slightly leaking - most probably due to dirt that got between valve and seat. All I want to do is to clean this and double check the springs height.

Van

Here's my method for lapping valves. I've had good results with it.

darek_u

Thanks Van, you've posted it already some time ago in reply to one of my older posts.
BTW how big (wide) is the area of a valve that touches the seat when closed? Like 1mm wide or just friction of a milimeter?

Van

I'd guess something like 1/2 to 1 mm (0.020-0.040").

xtaC

I guess I was spoilt growing up with a father who was a performance engine reconditioner; but I'll never use anything but a pneumatic valve spring compressor .....