Topic: Dual springs and Billet Retainers

[Tom Price]

I CANNOT get the split locks to come out of the billet retainers...... I have been trying to get them off for 2 days and they are still on there!  Any ideas????  The split locks seem to be stuck inside the retainer.... I am at my witts end!!!!!!!  I need a compressor like this... lol

http://www.mfgsupply.com/m/c/32-9252.html?id=saUGUi3b

[George Herrin]

Yup ya need a compresser OR lay head on top of rag on table something substanial enough you can put a socket on retainer and hit with hammer while what you have under head holds valve. I use a block of wood that fits in the chamber before I made my ohv retainer. Or is it a flattie. The you need a compressorduh its in the flattie section.

[The Tank]

Squidd had a post on here somewhere to cure that problem. He modifies a pair of vise grips by welding an automotive fender shim to it.http://www.heymow.com/index.php?topic=14507.msg152774#msg152774

Scroll down you will see the post by Squidd

[Tom Price]

Yup ya need a compresser OR lay head on top of rag on table something substanial enough you can put a socket on retainer and hit with hammer while what you have under head holds valve. I use a block of wood that fits in the chamber before I made my ohv retainer. Or is it a flattie. The you need a compressorduh its in the flattie section.

Taking some of what you do for the OHV motor I cut a piece of 3/4" OD tube with a .065 wall 1/2" long and compressed the spring all the way.  With the block sitting on the end with valves facing up I sat the piece of tube under the retainer where the valve stem would pass through and that left the valve sit up about 3/8" to 1/2" off the seat... taped the valve with a rubber mallet and it poped right off!  Thought I would share that if nobody had done that before.

[McLovin]

an old trick for stuck retainers for auto heads is to set a socket on the top of the spring retainer and wack it with a hammer.  The suden push down on the retainer and not the valve tip with loosen them up, sometimes they even pop out and the spring is freed.  pile up rags under the valve so it can not come out at an angle and hit the bench and posibly bend sideways or ding t he side of the valve.

[Huffy044]

The socket hitting the retainer is a great idea, just kinda hard to do on a flathead?

[McLovin]

to do this on a flatty, you will need to cut a piece of pipe with a slot in it long enough to hold the valve open a little, then tap the face of the valve, same thing in reverse.

[Hitch]

Take a screw driver & push up on the side of the retainer & tap the valve lightly with a hammer.

[hobo3128640]

i took an old 5/8 wrench and ground down the open end to where you can get it to slide in there and pushed on the reteainer and tapped on the valve and they usually come out.

[BRIGGS16]

or find someone down the street that has one, Thats what i do

[GTX21]

Yea you do...

or find someone down the street that has one, Thats what i do

[BRIGGS16]

Yea you do...

And PROUD OF IT 
I couldnt do anything with out your tools lol

[mr.smitty_78]

Hello if its a flatty heres what I do. Get a 11 or 12mm open boxed end wrench wrap black tape on the sharp edges of the opened end. Turn the crank by hand untill the valve your working on is opened completely then I put the wrench underneath of it and pry up a little bit. The with my other hand I turn the crank until the  lifter goes back into the block all the way. Then with a rubber mallet or dead blow hammer I tap on the valve and the reainers will eventually fall out then you can pull the valve out and then slide the spring and bottom of the retainer out past the lifter with it still compressed. Thats how us poor boy do it we dont have the luxury of valve spring compressors. Lol