http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...uestid=3150100


I rented this today because i needed was taking apart my head to clean it (obd0 b18a1) and im having a hell of a time trying to get the keepers back in.. does anyone have any pointers?

worst part is i cant really return it now because i took a grinder to it to make it fit.

 

I typically squish it down with that tool, place the keepers in place before putting it in over the valvestem, put my finger over the keepers to keep them sort of in place, and then put it in the head. If you do it right they just pop in easily (sometimes).

I've also modified my version of that tool to have thinner arms and bent the outer grips farther inward so they don't catch as much on the tighter areas of the head.

Doing this on a B18A though you might be better off just putting the springs in a vice, squishing them right the heck down, and zap-strapping both sides of the spring, putting them in the head and popping in the keepers, then cutting the straps. Done it that way before and it's a damn sight easier but it doesn't work if you've got stiffer springs (ie VTEC or aftermarket). Stock non-VTEC valvesprings are squishy enough that a zap strap will hold them no problem.