Its much easier when teh head is on the block but I am struggling even on one while the head is off the car. How do machine shops do this? I have tried both types of compressors, the old school stamped steel using a rocker nut and the new type you turn. With the new type, its pulling the spring up rather than pushing the retainer down. The old type won't push the spring down the stem. How the heck can I do this? Thanks.

 

are you using the type that goes on top of the spring and has two "arms" that go down each side and hooks on the spring in a lower place that you just turn the top to compress the spring? If so, sometimes you have to push up on the valve from underneath and tap the top of the spring with a small hammer or screwdriver. This will release the locks and the spring will come right off.

 

Put a fairly large socket on the retainer and give it a couple of good raps with a hammer.It will loosen the lock from the retainer.They get kind of glued togeter with age.

 

Good idea joe. Their titanium retainers, shouldn't harm them . I'll be sure to spray some wd40 on it as well. Give it a shot when I get off work, thanks.

 

Try to grab the part of the valvestem that goes past the locks with a needlenose vice grip then just tap te spring and that should loosen the valve from the locks.

 

thats the best advice you can give someone doing a spring swap. i was goin nuts trying to get mine off when i did my cam swap lol

 

Just as stated in my valve spring swap guide...