rumblefish's Duster project
This spring compressor is a good tool. But like all tools, you can mis-use it easy. It is straight foward. But if you do not look, you can damage a part or 2. I tried to take some pictures with one hand right above it. There a little blury, but clear enuff. You'll need to look close to see the very small differences in the tools position.
The first 1 shows the retainer to far foward. (Left in this shot) If you compress the spring down, the retainer will rub or scrape against the valve stem. You can damage the retainer this way. I doubt the valve , but I *Guess* it could be possible. Parts of the retainer will be scraped off. NO metal burr in the engine!
The second shot is the tool itself not centered well. Even pressure is best. Make sure your also not ontop off the valve. You'll struggle and get no where.
Shot 3 & 4 show the proper placement, which looks wrong, but when you compres the retainer ontop of the spring, there will be clearance when the spring is compressed to slide in the locks. As you pull the tool towards you, the area around the retainer and valve stem even out.
The last shot was hard to take. I should have done it earlier. That was the last spring. And my arm was worn out. The angle isn't to good, but getting the locks to the stem and slideing it around (With a tiny flat head screwdriver) is very easy.
I knew the difference after a few wrong tries. It's preety hard to install a lock when the retainer hasn't enuff room being up against the valve stem.
(Next time I do this, I'm makeing up a template of wood to bolt the head down onto it, then bolt the template to the bench. I used more muscle power to keep the head on the bench and level. I think Moper said he used a rag under the valve to prevent it from dropping down when he does this. I'll have to make provisions for stuffing a rag in the chamber as well.)
This spring compressor is a good tool. But like all tools, you can mis-use it easy. It is straight foward. But if you do not look, you can damage a part or 2. I tried to take some pictures with one hand right above it. There a little blury, but clear enuff. You'll need to look close to see the very small differences in the tools position.
The first 1 shows the retainer to far foward. (Left in this shot) If you compress the spring down, the retainer will rub or scrape against the valve stem. You can damage the retainer this way. I doubt the valve , but I *Guess* it could be possible. Parts of the retainer will be scraped off. NO metal burr in the engine!
The second shot is the tool itself not centered well. Even pressure is best. Make sure your also not ontop off the valve. You'll struggle and get no where.
Shot 3 & 4 show the proper placement, which looks wrong, but when you compres the retainer ontop of the spring, there will be clearance when the spring is compressed to slide in the locks. As you pull the tool towards you, the area around the retainer and valve stem even out.
The last shot was hard to take. I should have done it earlier. That was the last spring. And my arm was worn out. The angle isn't to good, but getting the locks to the stem and slideing it around (With a tiny flat head screwdriver) is very easy.
I knew the difference after a few wrong tries. It's preety hard to install a lock when the retainer hasn't enuff room being up against the valve stem.
(Next time I do this, I'm makeing up a template of wood to bolt the head down onto it, then bolt the template to the bench. I used more muscle power to keep the head on the bench and level. I think Moper said he used a rag under the valve to prevent it from dropping down when he does this. I'll have to make provisions for stuffing a rag in the chamber as well.)
