What tool to compress valve springs

gmcman

Original poster
Member
Dec 12, 2011
4,656
This is in the vehicle, and I need to get this done this weekend....I have a tool but won't clear the side of the head.

Can someone tell me what they used to compress the valve springs to remove the lash adjuster? I have a few ideas but I'm not scratching the lobes..... :no:

This is the tool I have and it's a no-go.

SPT1.png
 

Texan

Member
Jan 14, 2014
622
I have been following your post and am just thinking out loud. I can not imagine the oil filter
dropping more than 5-10 PSI. If you have 30 PSI hot at idle, you must not have a bearing problem.
Rather than trying to compress the valves, can you compress the lash adjusters? How about loosing
the cam bearing caps, more from the rear, and keep a eye on the timing chain to prevent it from loosing
to much, and removing a few of the rear lash adjusters to examine them. At the end of the day, based
on what I have read on your comments and seen in the vids, I would be inclined to put it back together
and drive it. It looks rather clean in the valve area. Keep us posted.
 

IllogicTC

Member
Dec 30, 2013
3,452
According the the shop manual, you'll need Kent-Moore J 8062 valve spring compressor, with J 42037 valve spring compressor adapter. But I'm not down with shoveling out 349843985874358974398574 dollars for a single tool, so something that would be equivalent to these would work just dandy.
 

Texan

Member
Jan 14, 2014
622
Normally, you would use a valve spring compressor to remove the valves. I wonder if the cams would
interfere with the KM special tools? Just wondering.
 

gmcman

Original poster
Member
Dec 12, 2011
4,656
Texan:

I'm with you on the oil prerssure....just that I also have a cold start tick on occasion and I want to say it may be the lash adjuster. I'm hearing it when hot and the knocking is at cam speed, regardless of load there is no change in pitch...and goes away above 2000-2500 RPM. If I can get the adjuster out I could probably clean a few of them or at least test them in some fashion.

I don't want to touch the cam bearing caps...I trust myself but I don't trust the bolts...and I need it this week since I had a dumb attack and didn't get my spare vehicle inspected or emission tested this week... :duh:

Lash adjusters won't compress enough to remove the rocker assembly.

Illogic:

That's actually a bargain. :smile:

I will search around....worst case I will tackle it another day. I will build something if I have to but I thought for sure mine would work. I could probably drill a hole in the handle and attach a rod to swing down to the top of the spring, using the cam as pivot point.
 

Texan

Member
Jan 14, 2014
622
I hate to bring this up, but could it possibly be one of the rollers on the rocker arms? Just another thought.

BTW, did you fly a black bird SR71?
 

gmcman

Original poster
Member
Dec 12, 2011
4,656
Texan said:
I hate to bring this up, but could it possibly be one of the rollers on the rocker arms? Just another thought.

BTW, did you fly a black bird SR71?
Yeah that's a possibility...didn't think of that.

No, haven't flown anything faster than a Cessna 152. :smile: I think the Blackbird is just one of the most amazing manned vehicles ever constructed, both in looks and functionality. There's one at the Air & Space museum near me and I could just stare at it for hours on end.
 

gmcman

Original poster
Member
Dec 12, 2011
4,656
I wanted to drill a 3/16 hole in my tool and use a threaded rod bent at 90 deg but since this tool is made from unobtanium, there is no boring a hole without a cobalt bit or the likes.

So I hit it with the grinder and recontoured the cam cutout, enlarged the flat where the bolt head sits and notched a 1/4" bolt head. I used a 5/16" serrated bolt to grab the top of the spring which is loose to change angles while depressing.

Not the sexiest but it works for now.
 

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Texan

Member
Jan 14, 2014
622
I am impressed with that custom made tool. Just make certain that the valve moves with the spring.
Don't want any loose keepers or dropped valves.
 

gmcman

Original poster
Member
Dec 12, 2011
4,656
Texan said:
I am impressed with that custom made tool. Just make certain that the valve moves with the spring.
Don't want any loose keepers or dropped valves.
Yeah...that would really suck....ha. Especially on a Sunday.

The pollen is insane today...doesn't work on last 2 cylinders but I cleaned 16 of them......wow. :crazy:
 

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Trios

Member
Mar 27, 2014
237
gmcman said:
I wanted to drill a 3/16 hole in my tool and use a threaded rod bent at 90 deg but since this tool is made from unobtanium, there is no boring a hole without a cobalt bit or the likes.
Man, the piercing shops must hate you for ruining their equipment....
 

gmcman

Original poster
Member
Dec 12, 2011
4,656
Trios said:
Man, the piercing shops must hate you for ruining their equipment....
Ha...no piercing shop tool is going through this baby. Easily stainless steel or the likes.....only the grinder would more than scratch it.
 

gmcman

Original poster
Member
Dec 12, 2011
4,656
I found the tool. Kent Moore EN-47945.

Bump the motor over until the cam lobe fully opens the valve, then set the tool on the valve spring and use a supplied bolt threaded into the coil pack bolt hole.

Bump the motor over until the lobe has cleared the rocker and remove the rocker, then pull the lash adjuster.

I'll do a quick vid when I get it.
 

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mrrsm

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Oct 22, 2015
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Some more Images of the Complete Tool Kit necessary to Compress the Valve Springs on the GM-GMC 4.2L LL8 Aluminum Six Cylinder Engine Head:

42511305665_7dee466ee5_c.jpg42511305765_055247056d_c.jpg42511305885_cec6a6ea8b_c.jpg28545881527_5307407f09_c.jpgGM42LVALVESPRINGCOMPRESSOR1.jpgGM42LVALVESPRINGCOMPRESSOR2.jpg
 
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mrrsm

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Oct 22, 2015
7,774
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THIS is what Freedom Racing wants for THIS Kit:

FREEDOMRACINGOEMNEW2.jpg

Or instead... Get THIS Used K&M J-44228 Kit for around $75.00 on eBay:



BESTKIT1.jpgBESTKIT2.jpgBESTKIT3.jpgBESTKIT3.jpgBESTKIT4.jpgBESTKIT5.jpg

...and then Pick up the Last Part of The Kit For just Under Ten Bucks:


s-l1600AAA.jpgs-l1600RR.jpgs-l1600GG.jpgs-l1600DD.jpgs-l1600.jpg
 
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