Topic: Valve keepers...pain in the a$$

[Calisoul]

So reinstalling the valve keepers is always a pain in the butt. I know there are tools out there that make the job easier but outside of that anyone have any advice for getting those suckers back on?

[mystic_1]

Do you not have a valve spring compressor?  Many auto parts stores can rent you one cheap.

mystic_1

[Garage_guy_chris]

Put a little sticky grease on the keepers. It will stick them to the valve stems and hold them in place before you release the valve compressor.

[flybox1]

Home made valve spring compressor $10
8-10" C-Clamp $8
PVC reducer$.75
The large opening of the PVC reducer needs to fit the adjustable end of the c-clamp
(put a washer in the reducer if it doesnt)
The small end needs to be able to sit on the retainer. 
make cutouts in the reducer so you can install the keepers.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Home made valve spring compressor $10
8-10" C-Clamp $8
PVC reducer$.75
The large opening of the PVC reducer needs to fit the adjustable end of the c-clamp
(put a washer in the reducer if it doesnt)
The small end needs to be able to sit on the retainer. 
make cutouts in the reducer so you can install the keepers.

Crafty!

[Calisoul]

Do you not have a valve spring compressor?  Many auto parts stores can rent you one cheap.

mystic_1

Yeah I have one but they always seem to slip out as I'm decompressing the spring. Second time I'm doing a valve job and still haven't gotten the hang of it. I'll try the grease thing I guess.

Thanks guys!
 

[mystic_1]

Magnets might also be useful for that.  I like to harvest the neodymium magnets out of old hard drives before disposing of them. 

mystic_1

[Bootsey]

+1 for magnet

[DH]

  +1    Magnet on the handle end of a pocket screwdriver.

[rockthehellout]

I made a compressor similar to the one above, but used a squeeze action clamp. Managed to shoot just 1 spring across the street, not a bad yield.

[MRieck]

So reinstalling the valve keepers is always a pain in the butt. I know there are tools out there that make the job easier but outside of that anyone have any advice for getting those suckers back on?

Try putting keepers on a 4mm stem deep in a shim/bucket head.

[Big Jay]

Here is what we use;

[mystic_1]

.... that's cheating.   

mystic_1