What style or brand of valve spring compressor

[Sparkey1207]

I've almost completed the valve job on my 63 Cub and have come to the conclusion that getting the valve keepers "out" by pushing up on the spring with a screw driver was the easy part. Although my spring compressor is fairly small it's still to large to compress enough in the limited space to get the keepers back in. Any tricks to doing to doing this. I think I've run out of bad language to use trying to get this done !

[Eugene]

What style valve spring compressor do you have?

I have a large C shaped spring compressor. I put a block of wood on the top of the engine block, covering the valves, then set the upper end of the compressor on the wood.

I have several different styles of spring compressors for small engines. None work on the C-60 engine.

[ScottyD'sdad]

I've used the large "C" shaped compressor, from Sears. Made one, from a modified welding clamp, vise grip type, with compressor fingers from the big "C" type. Works reasonably well, and is not as big and clumsy as the big one.
Ed

[twotone]

I've used this "C" type. Have to fudge with it and little to make it work. I also put a little grease on the keepers to hold them in place.

[DRShahan]

I had decent luck with the rental set from Advanced Auto

[inairam]

I am not as skilled as others on the site and could not get the C clamp ones to work for me nor the other ideas about the keepers. I asked a local mechanic and he had a tool K&D 608 to hold the keepers.

I took a photo and when i got home starting looking on ebay. I could not find the 608 but found the 607 same idea but with magnets instead of springs on the 608. They showed other K& B products and I saw a plier style compression tool also from K&D and got that. Also vaseline worked better for me than grease to hold the keepers on the tool while inserting them

kd607a.png (397.18 KiB) Viewed 2059 times

My post on the keepers viewtopic.php?f=1&t=93111

[Bill Hudson]

... Made one, from a modified welding clamp, vise grip type, with compressor fingers from the big "C" type. Works reasonably well, and is not as big and clumsy as the big one.
Ed

This is the one Ed is referring to.



Bill

[Sparkey1207]

Thank you everyone for the ideas and help. The compressor I have ,as it turns out, is meant for small engines such as a Briggs or Kohler. After a short search on Amazon I found a C type compressor for under $ 20 that looks like it might work.?? It'll be here Tuesday so I'll let you know if it was money wasted.

Thanks
Mike R.

[SONNY]

Mine is a BIG c with a hand crank, and takes a couple hands to use it! thanks; sonny

[staninlowerAL]

Search for ZIM MFG CO Chicago Illinois, They have several different types shown. I have a #131 but it is too small for the C60 engine, it's meant for small engines like lawn mowers.

[artc]

i use a C clamp type and tape a 5/8 or 3/4 socket to the head so that i can close it down enough. works fine. none of the small engine valve spring compressors in my collection will work easily. a magnetic keeper tool is a must, as is grease on the keeper to keep it in place while you put the other one on

[Sparkey1207]

Just a quick update. The $17.50 "C" style compressor purchased from Amazon did the job with minimal cussing.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

That looks like a pretty good rig. I have always used a modified small engien spring compressor that I modified the jaws on, but I think I will get one of them for my next job.

[Eugene]

I have one similar to the one in the photo, from Sears. Received a flyer stating that the local Sears store was closing and that in store merchandize is on sale. May be worth check out your local sears store.

Wife showed me the flyer and asked if I wanted to purchase Craftsman tools. Declined.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

.....Wife showed me the flyer and asked if I wanted to purchase Craftsman tools. Declined.

Buy some for next years Christmas gifts. Hint, hint!!. I haven't heard the plans for the local Sears store (Farmington, Mo.), but after several years of lousy service, it has had a new owner for the last few years and they believe in customer service now.