quiksheit

Hi, I recently had to change my headgasket. I ran out of time before i could ever do the valve seals and i really regret it. I ve searched and couldnt find anything that tells how to do it with the head still on. Checked helms too. Please help. Isnt there a valve spring compressor for having the head still on?? People talk about the compressed air and rope trick but no one is very specific.

TIA

cougar10ag

theres an adapter you cna buy that hooks to an air hose thats screws into the spark plug hole.. if not take an old spark plug. smash the **** out of the porcelin wiht a hammer. and weld on an air adapter. seal it, chekc for leaks and use that.

basically you set each cyl at TDC, screw the adapter in the hole and compress with air.. i dunno how much PSI you need exactly. guess 60psi should be enough. then proceed to work on the walves.

quiksheit

Thanks... but what about the compressor?? What should i use to get at em with the head still on??

frenchy

in my helms the directions for changing the valve seals is with the head on - it also lists the snap-on p/n for the spring compressor in the tools list

kelly

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/SP-91400.html

frenchy

thats the one - probably a third of the price of the snap-on one - welcome to h-t kelly

tilt

here is the rope trick. i did this since the air compressor thing was way too exp imo.

remove spark plugs
pick a cylinder you want to work on. set the crank off tdc
stuff the rope through the spark plug hole - you can use a long screwdriver or a wooden stick if you are afraid of damaging the threads.
turn the crank back towards tdc - you will feel the crank stop turning, if not you didnt put in enough rope.
now the valves are safe from falling in
do whatever it is you need to do - replacing the valvesprings, retainers, etc.
turn the crank off tdc, pull the rope out
repeat process for the remaining cyls