Hey everyone, First real post after lurking for a while.

My main question is do I absolutely have to pull the head off to inspect?
Images are below and a link to dropbox for higher res

So I hear a rattling in my engine and a whistling under acceleration through my intake. I decide to take off my valve cover to fix my cam seal leak and adjust my valves. I go to adjust my valve and notice the retainers have snapped. I'm running on the secondary spring on 3 intake valves. They are Crower 87093D retainers; I'm assuming due to the head work you can see in the pictures. I'm tight on cash right now and don't want to pull the head off. Can I get away with just getting the debris out and replacing the retainers?

Thanks for reading any input is welcomed!

PS. I bought the car swapped for 1800. Guy didn't know what was done. This is the result.

Here is my drop box https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ogk1teb03...z_vKBj9da?dl=0

 

Not the first time I've seen failure like that on Ti retainers, any idea on how many miles they have on the? I personally would replace all of them with cromoly steel set or stock ones which depending on your case will be the best choice. Also would help to know what springs your running, I'd imagine a set of crower ones as well, if they're aftermarket higher then factory tension springs they may not get along with used factory retainers for too long if you like to rev out you motor often.

As far as cleaning the head I would personally want to be as thorough as possible also to get all the debris out of the head and to replace the retainers you will need to remove the cams, and to avoid dropping a valve into the cylinder I have taken Nylon rope snaked it down into the cylinder I'm working on through the spark plug hole while that cylinder is a bit bellow TDC and fill it with as much rope as possible then put said cylinder to TDC and then remove the valve springs, retainer pieces, find your valve locks and reassemble with new retainers.
Pulling the head would give the clearest indication if there is an issue with the valves as well since they may have made contact with your pistons and bent at the stem's. You will want to do a compression test to find out if this is the case.

 

The retainers have at least 40,000 kms on them. I'm surprised that only 3 are snapped.

Yeah, I assumed they were the corresponding crower high tension ones. The retainers I plan on picking up are part no. 87093DS-16. I plan on using a compressor to keep the valves up. I was going to tear apart the head as much as I can without actually removing it.

I am also still driving the car as well just babying it around. I still don't know what cams are in it and such. I'm also worried if I it take the head off and its not a stock block I'm screwed and have to wait for a gasket.

I did a compression test and everything is good for now.
I found this on crower. http://www.crower.com/media/pdf/Honda.pdf Only retainers that require head work are the 87093d or ds retainers. So I should be good there

 

40,000k so that's roughly 25,000 miles so yea right around the max service life if not more, most people I've met who run competitive cars usually only let a set run for a year maybe 2 if they aren't putting alot of miles on the car. Just replace them sooner then later and run at your own risk. Once your ready to replace them and clean out the head take plenty of pics of the cams so maybe you can identify them.

 

Yeah Im change my thinking to go with the nylon rope instead of using a compressor. It may be time to rebuild, so I know exactly where I stand.

 

ive replaced the valve springs and retainers with this tool and used a compressor to keep up the valves worked fine.




http://www.ebay.com/itm/Valve-Spring-Compressor-Tool-Honda-B-Series-H-Series-VTEC-B16-B18-H22-/121704195204?hash=item1c5622a484&vxp=mtr

 

bought one off of member already Anyone think I should tear the head off completely?

 

haha wasnt fromme was it? i sold one a few weaks ago here lol.


Well im surprised the valve diddnt drop and chewed up the head!

 

Nah I just paid him haha. I am suprised as well. I have to drive it around for two more weeks before I can pull the head off. I've convinced myself they have been blown for a long time. Maybe three or 4 oil changes I've been hearing this whistling and my engine has rattled since I bought it.

 

Dragging an old tread up.

I have no clue on this so looking for opinions, are the OEM retainers/keepers something that wear out and need replacing during a rebuild? Cheap enough but wondering if it's necessary or not. OEM cams on a street car.

 

Typically I don't replace my retainers or keepers.

The only thing I tend to replace every time the head comes off are the valve seals.

 

Titanium is a metal that I would never chose for a retainer, I've spent many years working with it.

 

Interesting, because it gets soft with heat?

 

https://crosstraxx.com/pages/a-look-...tainless-steel

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/ti...ainers-needed/

https://honda-tech.com/forums/all-mo...eeded-3170289/