I was lapping my new valves and installing my new supertech valve springs, retainers and keepers today. I had 4 valves complete and working on the 5th one when I noticed my keeper was split in half,so I pulled it out and threw a new one made a call and a few extra on the way. I figured it was probably a bad one I got and decided to continue on installing everything. I got to my 10th valve put the keepers in and another one split and shot out so I said f@ck it and order ferrea keepers.

 

Might be nice if you told us your exact valve train setup...

 

Ferrea valves with supertech valve springs and retainers. 85lb valve springs

 

It loos like that one failed from too much pressure while trying to install it. it's very rare that they would just snap in half, especially while being installed.

that clean break tells me that is was a pressure fracture

 

whats wrong with the oem keepers? even having one of them break would leave me with a bad feeling

 

The oem are cast the supertech are suppose to be stronger

 

From this statement even you don't seem convinced of that. That's a sign to tell you just stick with the OEM ones, and you'll be fine.

 

I don't think most understand what hardened actually means. Typically with hardened parts they are more brittle but have a much stronger resistance to wear. I broke a few Comp Cams keepers myself 12 years ago when I had no clue what I was doing and I jumped the gun blaming parts just like you.

Give a better description possibly with pictures on EXACTLY how you installed the keepers and with what valve spring compressor was used for the job. Not that Supertech is my favorite, but I have installed At least ~200 keepers of that specific brand and never had an issue. I think there is more to the story here...

PS - Most prefer to keep all valvetrain parts from the same manufacturer anyways.

 

First off I'm not blaming anyone just giving ppl a warning. I'm out $20 big deal I'd hate to see them fail in a running motor. I'm just happy it happened when it did. As far as the spring compressor goes its a snap-on one. Everything was installed them correctly it wasn't my first time. I talked to Kevin from speedfactory their engine builder and he does it the same way. What I purchased was recommend to me.

 

The first one broke after it was installed for a good 30-45 min. The second one broke as soon as all the pressure was on it. I've never had it happen before.

 

A lot of ppl recommend aftermarket because of the seat pressure that's why I bought them

 

OP is this the tool you are using?

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

 

Interested in how this turns out. I'm getting ready to purchase my Supertech head package as well and was looking at the 85lb springs for turbo use...

 

Well now that changes things that it broke AFTER you had installed already, haha. You didn't say that. Even still, I have not owned Ferrea or used them before but I thought the valve stems had a specific design to them that you had to use their keepers only - or was it the keeper to retainers? In any event, I always try to not mix valvetrain parts period. Glad you found it before you ran the engine for sure.

BUT, one would think for them to break there had to be some kind of clearance to allow them to flex just enough.

 

I stated that after working on the head I noticed it split. It could if been a bad batch. I'm not very lucky that's what I'm blaming

 

Aren't there different angles of keepers?

I know super tech has reg and another angle.

Maybe that's why?

 

That's the tool I use and many other ppl do

 

I'm still going to run there springs and retainers just not the keepers

 

I have the same tool. To me, it looks like you have a bad batch of keepers. That tool while not idiot proof, would make it hard for someone to mangle a keeper. I think it is real fortunate that you caught this before you ran the motor. GL with the rest of your build.

 

You vaguely stated a keeper split. If you read what you typed it seemed as if while working on the 5th valve you noticed one of the keepers split (as in the retainer you were working on currently had a cracked keeper going in/in already). You then go on to say while working on the 10th another keeper split. Using a bit of deciphering and context clues I surmised what you were trying to say. I was only basing my observation off of the facts you stated.

Sorry for the drug out explanation for my deduction logic, but just wanted you to understand I wasn't trying to attack you in any way. Like I said, hopefully your new keepers are the ticket. Good luck.

 

Dang I got the same keepers, I think(mine r the newer cnc ones, not sure if these r) and use the same tool. I guess I'll have to keep an eye on them when I'm installing them.

 

They are the new cnc ones I just got them about a month ago

 

It's all good I just hate typing that's why it's not the most detailed out there

 

I have been using ferrea valves with supertech springs/retainers, and manley locks without issue. I always thought the ferrea keepers can only be used with their retainers due to the fact the keepers are alittler longer?

 

Yes there are keepers with different angles, using a keeper with the wrong angle will result in keeper failure.

the fact it broke after installation is odd, especially since the keeper never saw any use.. the second breaking is even weirder.

I would call supertech and tell them what happened, also give them the part number to verify the keepers you ordered/received are the correct angle for your application