valve spring compressors? (and keeping the valves from falling out)

[superba]

Hi Timmy,

Javad was correct;  the proper way is to use compressed air in the cylinder
through the spark plug hole.  However, there is another trick that works but
is a little time consuming;  however it beats fishing a valve out of the
cylinder.  Get some clean rope, about 1/2 the diameter of the spark plug
hole, and feed it into the cylinder until you've filled up the cylinder.
You'll have to pack it in but it will keep the valve from dropping into the
cylinder.  I've done it a few times and it's nothing compared to getting the
keepers on the valves with your free hand.  Use a little axle grease, or I
suppose you could use chewing gum, to help hold the keepers until you get
them in position.  Buy some extra keepers before you start and have a long
slim magnet or a magnet on a string to drop into the oil drain holes to fish
out the keepers when they "fly".

All of this is easier if you have a second pair of helper hands, but be sure
to get someone that's patient.

HTH.

Cheers!

Jim Jordan


>  Message: 14
>  From: "Haydn Taylor" <haydn_taylor at hotmail.com>
>  To: quattro at audifans.com
>  Subject: valve spring compressors?
>  Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2003 23:02:43 -0400
>
>  Hey All,
>
>  Dumb question.....
>
>  Where can I get my hands on a valve spring compressor that will
>  work on my
>  5KTQ head.
>
>  I havea sears one, but it cant reach down deep enought to do the
>  job. I did
>  manage to get all the valves out today by using my O2 sensor socket as an
>  extension tube. But I have no chance of doing the same to put
>  them back in
>  once I am done porting.
>
>  I have been searching the web for a while tonight and have seen a system
>  that uses rails and a cam over lever which looks nice, but how
>  do I hold the
>  valves up? do I have to bolt clamp the head face down to the bench with a
>  shim to hold the valves into the combustion chamber.
>
>  Anyway- if anyone knows how to do this that would be good.
>
>  Timmmy
>
>  "Imlivinalie!!!"
>
------------snip, snip------------------------