Tool for removing valve springs.

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my68barracuda

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Working on some valve train geometry improvements and wanted to remove the valve springs with the cylinder head on the engine and the engine in the car.
Found several pre made options, lever operated, so I have to hold a lever and finagle keepers? Or more positive devices but more than I wanted to spend.
So I made this, used two slant six rocker arms, a carriage bolt some misc scrap steel and a couple of nuts and my welder.
It works really well. This may become my go to valve spring removal tool.
The two bolts in the steel plate are positioned in the inside of the valve cover rail to hold the plate while the rounded head of the carriage bolt changes angle as the valve spring is compressed. Have and extra hole to accommodate the profile changes in the rail of the cylinder head.
Use a ratchet on the nut, makes it easy to have the spring compressed while positioning the keepers.

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Musta had some 'free' time.
If it works and you're happy, then you succeeded.
Fwiw You can buy a proform pretty cheap and spend less effort mod'n it if need be.
 
How about those OEM brand that you clamp the lower spring coil with it and use its jack screw to push the keeper down? I do like your homemade one. could you just use the rail as the stop? Spray paint it black......Those welds are hurting my eyes (although they are better than what I could do!) :rolleyes:
 
I had a valve spring fly out of my spring compressor that grabbed the spring with the side levers, if I had been in the way that would have hurt.
And the thing I posted has a nut drive, put a 10 inch ratchet on it,, really easy, really secure.
The welds are really decent for penetration, just did not grind them, as I ain’t going for some Congeniality prize.
 
Fwiw You can buy a proform pretty cheap and spend less effort mod'n it if need be.
Spend about $50 on a tool, then butcher it, or spend $0 on parts from the junk box, and butcher them? Time would be about the same. I made my slant six spring removal tool from a pair of old rocker arms, and a section of shaft, and used the rest of the shaft as a lever like on the proform. About 1 hour time. Plus I didn't have to wait for the mail.
 
This.. mod'd, if need be, would take about 2 mins...and NOT be mistaken as trash and thrown out. Just the perspective of an engine builder and non / only enthusiast.

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I used the loaner tool that AutoZone had for the job and it worked ok. I like your homemade tool and it's great that now you've got it when you need it. I use a magnetic pencil type tool to menuver the keepers into place and try to keep my face out of the way. Lol
 
Maybe I'm off base here but I just use my cheap Harbor Freight one and it's worked fine for everything...
 
You made it, it works as intended, and it cost next to nothing. Good for you and congratulations! Having seen it there are things I might do different but I rarely get anything right the first time myself. Helps to see something in action and then improve if needed.
 
Not bad! I like my budget compressor that hooks over the rocker shaft very well. For an off the engine compressor, the best I've used so far is a 10 inch Wilton C clamp with a notch ground into the pad end.
 
You made it, it works as intended, and it cost next to nothing. Good for you and congratulations! Having seen it there are things I might do different but I rarely get anything right the first time myself. Helps to see something in action and then improve if needed.

Having seen it there are things I might do different

like what?
 
Nothing that would really make it significantly better. Maybe a little bit different gusseting and I might make the jack screw thread on a pivot and then put a hemispherical dimple in the plate the carriage bolt sets on. That all comes from different designs that I’ve worked on in industry.
I rarely don’t fuss with purchased tools or equipment in quest to improve them or put my mark on them. Usually doesn’t make it any better, occasionally it does, and rare occasion I screw it up. Keeps me out of the bars.
 
unfortunately, I believe this tool has been discontinued. I tried to buy one last year but couldn’t find one anywhere.
Really? That sucks.

I have a LANG lever style that's decent.
Just dont drop one, cause if you bend the screw the very slightest.. it becomes a binding sumbitch. I think they need to design a locking sleeve. Craftsman ..now they had one they discontinued that wasn't half bad either. It didn't have a screw to enable adjustment under clamp force,but it had a locking pin to adjust for distance.
I have a small screw type from kragen auto that still works great. It's made by Powerbuilt..which is a decent tool manufacturer as it turns out.
All the offset closed end wrenches, spring compressor, joint separators, sockets...I still have and work fine. They even look better than the harboured freight crap...and back I would have considered them equal quality because I was financing tools from matco,snapon cornwell. I still have MOST of those...seems they grow legs and DISAPPEAR over the years. I remember when my brother lost my shallow 3/4 cornwell impact socket at the pick a part... a hammer another time..funny how yo never forget who loses your tools.
 
I have made spring compressors from old rocker arms, similar to post #7.
 
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