DIY Valve spring Compressor...

[CygnusX1]

...or how I learned to stop worrying and love being frugal.

Rather then pay the $100+ for a snap on overhead valve spring compressor I built my own using an O2 sensor socket and parts available from home depot.

Here's the pictures of the parts involved and it mounted to a DSM head.

http://members.aol.com/clydefrog2112/valv02.jpg

http://members.aol.com/clydefrog2112/valv01.jpg


Pictured are two pieces of 3/4" electrical conduit, two L brackets found in the door hardware section, 1 flat plate found in the same section bent into a U to connect the socket to the pipe, 3 U bolts found in the hardware section as well as 2 other misc bolts to mount the U to the pipe and hole the socket to the U.

Parts should run roughly around $20 and of course atleast a drill is needed to make the necessary holes to mount it to the cylinder head and put it together.

[Ikestaa]

I hate to burst your bubble, but Autozone will let you borrow a valve spring compressor for a fully refundable deposit.

[CygnusX1]

Not the overhead fulcrum compressor, atleast not any local autozones to me, and their website does not list it either, all they have is This one (http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/in_our_stores/loan_a_tool/valvetrain_repair/valve_compressor.jsp) which is more suited to an OHV engine like a small block chevy.

[silverbulletAWD]

I like your thinking man. I've been thinking lately of a good way to make my own compressor also, and I think I'm gonna do what you did.

[Blackboost]

Very nice!!:D

[Ikestaa]

I see, never mind. :)

[saucy91gsx]

Im assuming the o2 socket is for our car right? Does it need to have the opening cut larger?

[silverbulletAWD]

The 02 socket I used was from Auto Zone. It was $11 or $12 I had to turn it down on a lathe at work and then open up the slot on a mill and it still needs some more room yet. Also I didn't think about it untill after it was done and after I tried to use it but there is nothing holding the heads of the valves from moving. It is hard to break the retainers loose on a used head while working alone and also not to safe to use on assemblies because you aren't putting straight pressure on the stem. The only solution we have is to clamp it down to a bench for disassembly or make a lower plate w/ the proper angles for the heads to press on. Hope that helps.

[CygnusX1]

Originally posted by silverbulletAWD
The 02 socket I used was from Auto Zone. It was $11 or $12 I had to turn it down on a lathe at work and then open up the slot on a mill and it still needs some more room yet. Also I didn't think about it untill after it was done and after I tried to use it but there is nothing holding the heads of the valves from moving. It is hard to break the retainers loose on a used head while working alone and also not to safe to use on assemblies because you aren't putting straight pressure on the stem. The only solution we have is to clamp it down to a bench for disassembly or make a lower plate w/ the proper angles for the heads to press on. Hope that helps.

Well If I understand you properly, you're saying the valve itself will move down.

When I took the head apart with mine on my workbench (the floor), I had a bunched up tshirt/towel under the head which kept the valves from falling or moving. If this was a concern with the head on the car, one could always use the rope trick or fill the cylinder with compressed air.

[saucy91gsx]

Thats what I was thinking because I already have the head off. Im gonna go to the home depot tommorrow and see if I can find all these pieces. I have two questions. When you use the lever to push down do you need a extra person to pull the retainers while you compress the spring or is it a one hand on each deal? Also can someone explain how to mount/attatch the socket to the bent flat piece of metal?

[stanfosd]

Awesome! I am going to go to Lowes on my lunch and see if I can find the parts to make this. :)

You should do a vfaq on how you pieced yours together. ;) :D

[CygnusX1]

I was able to compress the spring and get the keepers myself with one hand working the compressor and the other using a magnetic tipped screwdriver to grap the keepers.

I may try and make some better pics in the future, but right now I just moved to a new apartment and have no idea where anything is. Plus my POS camera's flash died so I'll have to do it outside and try not to shake like I have parkinsons.

I mounted the socket to the U shaped piece with a 1/2" bolt.

[silverbulletAWD]

Originally posted by CygnusX1


Well If I understand you properly, you're saying the valve itself will move down.

When I took the head apart with mine on my workbench (the floor), I had a bunched up tshirt/towel under the head which kept the valves from falling or moving. If this was a concern with the head on the car, one could always use the rope trick or fill the cylinder with compressed air.

Yes on the particular head I was working on the valve moved down on a few, not all of them did though. I must say I didn't spend to much time with it because I didn't actually need to pull that head apart yet, I was just bored :)