Has anyone used this kind of valve spring compress

[Spetz]

Hi everyone,

I am at the stage of removing the valve springs on my 6A12 MIVEC DOHC motor from a Mitsubishi FTO.
It is a headache job and I am contemplating removing the heads.

Naturally I would rather avoid doing this and looking at all options.
Has anyone used the below style of valve spring compressor, and if so what is your opinion?

 

[E365]

I was just using one today. Maybe the exact same one? $37 cheapo of eBay.

No big complaints at all on a 2008 MINI Cooper S (N14 engine). Got the job done without any problem. It could use a longer lever, but not a big deal. Used a magnet to remove the collets and a small HF needle nose to reinstall. Obviously the head is off here, but I've seen videos of it used on an installed head on a MINI.

 

[Shannow]

It's prettier than the pickle fork one I made decades ago and used successfully.

Give the valve spring retainers a smart whack with a socket to deseat the collets from any varnish first, if they are sticky, it's a real pain.

 

[Silk]

Good luck on the rear head....

 

[Spetz]

Thanks guys.

Yes the rear exhaust valves are my main concern with this type of valve spring compressor.

My other option is removing the heads but I've never done this + then there is the added cost of head gaskets, head bolts etc.

Time is not overly important as the goal is to have this done within a few months basically

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: E365
I was just using one today.


What are the chances of that ? One in five billion ? This board is spooky sometimes.

 

[andyd]

Spetz, any way to back off the lash on the rear exhaust valves?

 

[Spetz]

Andyd, sorry I don't quite understand your question.
If it is regarding the lash adjusters, they are no longer in the head.
I've removed everything out (cams, rocker arms, cam tray etc).
This is a pic of how the heads are now (rather just one, the rear one still has the cam tray and rockers in it).
Does anyone know what those 2 allen key shaped bolts are for between the spark plug tubes?

 

[Silk]

Like frost, or welch plugs, just screwed in.

 

[jacobsond]

I used one of those on my 16valve 1.6 suzuki engine. Worked great.I used my leak down tester to put about 60-70 lbs air in the cylinder to keep the valves closed.I didn't have the correct tool to pull off the valve stem seals that was the only pain.

 

[Spetz]

Just a quick update, I ended up buying one of those tools and it worked really well. Made changing valve stem seals an easy and painless job (relatively speaking).

I am yet to do the rear exhaust seals (on a V6 FWD car) but so far so good.

I used my floor jack level as an extension bar to help out (otherwise the springs were way too stiff to compress for long enough to install the retainers).