i am having the time of my life with this compressor contraption. i eventually get it but its a pain? anyone to comment /help?

 

You want this tool. I did valve springs a few weeks ago, and this tool made it a piece of cake. Very easy to use. Heads were on the car as well.

 

Took me 2 days with the 14 dollar Autozone Compressor.... 1 day getting them off... one day getting them on.... next time I think I'll buy hte 100.00 one and get it done out right... what a headache..


There's only one word of advice for Valve spring compressors "patience"

 

I had the same problem with the crummy Autozone compressor. I got mad at it and broke it so I had to buy another one. It took me two days as to swap my springs out.

 

If you pay the good money to start with and get the quality one it will only take 5 min each max to remove and swap springs and seals.

 

The one I have seems to work very well, i used it to take of my Comp 977's a weeek or so back...took me like an hour or 2. I have used a couple before that were pieces of junk and were a nightmare to use. Tools are one place you really need good, quality pieces...they can really make a night and day difference when doing work on your car.

 

what one are you guys using, and where do you get it?? P/N maybe?

 

I started with a spring compressor from KD tools that worked well for a while before the threads decided to eat themselves and the thing literally fell apart. I finished the job using one with a similar design (screw type) that i got at a Sears Hardware store. It was a simpler design and was just built much better.

Unless you have small fingers and very steady hands, I don't see how replacing valve springs isn't going to be a pain in the butt. It probably took me 12 hours to do the springs and rockers start to finish, would have been faster with help though.

 

The one I currently have is from Advance auto parts, its really not that nice...but seems to work pretty good. It has a wheel on the top that tightens it down, then when the spring has compressed I hit the top of the compressor with my hand, and then hold it down. Its always a pain to get the locks out, so I use a very small screwdriver with a magnet on the end to pull the locks. I know this tool isn't of the highest quality so I will be on the lookout for one that resembles it, but stronger looking piece...although this one does have a lifetime warranty.

 

well i was suckered into the one from auto one, i would think that would vary the arms lengths so it tightens down evenly