Removing Valve Springs

sengk · 12-19-2006, 11:49 AM

Is there an easy way of compressing and removing valve springs instead of buying the service tool from Toyota?

What type of valve spring compressor are you guys using and how much did it cost?

Thinking about stripping the heads on my 3vzfe to clean, port, and polish before doing the v6 swap to my MR2 in spring.

Thanks,
Seng

Gairloch · 12-19-2006, 06:09 PM

It is a major PITA. You'll wish you had taken it to a machine shop.

I've used this one and while it was enough of a pain that it took 2 of us to do the job we did get it done. Make sure you have something handy like a magnet wand to fish out the keepers. Guaranteed to drop into your head at least once

Has anyone ever used a spring compressor like this? Seems like there would be clearance issues.

AndrewMcG · 12-19-2006, 06:35 PM

Or you can get the one at www.toyotool.com and do it while the head is on the motor.

PHOENIX · 12-19-2006, 07:24 PM

one of my mechanics at my work was telling me how they all use spark plug sockets to take the valves out. I guess the magnet inside snags up the keepers or something, and the socket is perfectly made for something like this.

I can't say i've tested this, but it sounds like a cheap way of getting the valves out.

Gairloch · 12-19-2006, 10:54 PM

Hmm .. I might have to try to find a spark plug socket that is magnetic if I end up doing this again. Mine have rubber sleeves in 'em.

Ben · 12-19-2006, 11:14 PM

There Is No Need For A SST. I Did This Myself. All You Need To A 13mm Socket. Center It Over The Valve Spring And Hit It With A Hammer. This Will Cause The Keepers To Pop Out. Super Easy.

sengk · 12-20-2006, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gairloch

Has anyone ever used a spring compressor like this? Seems like there would be clearance issues.

I have something like that and there is a clearance issue.

sengk · 12-20-2006, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben

There Is No Need For A SST. I Did This Myself. All You Need To A 13mm Socket. Center It Over The Valve Spring And Hit It With A Hammer. This Will Cause The Keepers To Pop Out. Super Easy.

So with the valve spring and everything assembled on the head just put a 13mm socket over it and hit it with a hammer? That sounds almost too easy. I'll have to try it on my spare head. How would you compress the spring to reassemble it?

Thanks for all of your comments guys.

sengk · 12-20-2006, 10:20 AM

btw my heads are already off the block.

Gairloch · 12-20-2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sengk

So with the valve spring and everything assembled on the head just put a 13mm socket over it and hit it with a hammer? That sounds almost too easy. I'll have to try it on my spare head. How would you compress the spring to reassemble it?

Thanks for all of your comments guys.

You don't, that's where that falls down.

Not only that but it would suck if you had a keeper go flying somewhere.

Ben · 12-20-2006, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sengk

So with the valve spring and everything assembled on the head just put a 13mm socket over it and hit it with a hammer? That sounds almost too easy. I'll have to try it on my spare head. How would you compress the spring to reassemble it?

That's It. Just A Socket And Hammer Since The Heads Are Off The Block. The Socket Also Keeps The Keepers From Going Anywhere. After You Hit It, The Keepers USUALLY Stay Inside The Socket.

To Reinstall The Keepers, You Need A Special Tool That Looks Like A Car Cell Phone Charger - The Part That Goes Into The Cigarette Lighter.

Gairloch · 12-20-2006, 11:41 PM

Ben, could you link us a pic for that tool?

When I did it we put a dab of oil on the keeper then used a screwdriver and a magnet wand to put them back on the valve.

sengk · 12-21-2006, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben

There Is No Need For A SST. I Did This Myself. All You Need To A 13mm Socket. Center It Over The Valve Spring And Hit It With A Hammer. This Will Cause The Keepers To Pop Out. Super Easy.

I tried it and it actually is that easy. lolz

I managed to finish porting one intake port and 3/4 of another. It's looking good so far. I think i will try porting the exhaust side next and then the combustion chamber. If it comes out looking good then i will do it on the actual engine that i am going to use.

Thanks for the suggestion and please do post a pic of what tool you used to put the valves back in.

Ben · 12-21-2006, 04:03 PM

^ Glad I Was Able To Help. I'll Try And Find A Pic Of The Tool......

Ben · 12-21-2006, 04:06 PM

The Black Tool On The Right Is Used To Reinstall The Keepers.

This Is A Different One Than The One I Actually Used, But All The Same Principle.

Place The Keepers In The Valve, Lower The Collar On The Top To Center Everything, The USE YOUR BODY WEIGHT To Push The Rod = Keepers Go Back In. DO NOT HIT THIS WITH A HAMMER!!!!!!!

Like I Mentioned Above, Place A Bunch Of Rags Under The Valve Face So The Valve Doesn't Move.

MrGrimm · 12-21-2006, 04:09 PM

i use an air spring compressor to build heads all day long at work. not toyota, but john deere, so im sure its alot different. but we use the same method to take keepers out in disassembly (socket)

sengk · 12-21-2006, 04:47 PM

Thanks, but I can't even imagine how that would work. Or I should say i can't imagine what the proper way of using that is.

Ben · 12-22-2006, 10:35 PM

It's Almost As Easy As Taking The Keepers Out. It Just Sounds A Little Confusing.

Weasy2k · 12-27-2006, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben

There Is No Need For A SST. I Did This Myself. All You Need To A 13mm Socket. Center It Over The Valve Spring And Hit It With A Hammer. This Will Cause The Keepers To Pop Out. Super Easy.

Ditto! Removing is EASY...installing without a easy tool such as the toyotool is a PAIN!

sengk · 01-19-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben

The Black Tool On The Right Is Used To Reinstall The Keepers.

This Is A Different One Than The One I Actually Used, But All The Same Principle.

Place The Keepers In The Valve, Lower The Collar On The Top To Center Everything, The USE YOUR BODY WEIGHT To Push The Rod = Keepers Go Back In. DO NOT HIT THIS WITH A HAMMER!!!!!!!

Like I Mentioned Above, Place A Bunch Of Rags Under The Valve Face So The Valve Doesn't Move.

I wasn't able to find the one pictured above locally but i was able to find this one from sears:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

it works ok once you find a small piece of tubing about 3/4 diameter 1.5 inches long to use with the jaw. You have to work through the tubing to install and remove the keepers.

12-19-2006, 11:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
sengk No Skills Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 153 Thanks: 3 Thanked 12 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Removing Valve Springs Is there an easy way of compressing and removing valve springs instead of buying the service tool from Toyota? What type of valve spring compressor are you guys using and how much did it cost? Thinking about stripping the heads on my 3vzfe to clean, port, and polish before doing the v6 swap to my MR2 in spring. Thanks, Seng

12-21-2006, 04:06 PM	#15 (permalink)
Ben Same In The End Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oceanside, CA / Reno, NV Posts: 4,274 Thanks: 20 Thanked 309 Times in 284 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (16/100% )	The Black Tool On The Right Is Used To Reinstall The Keepers. This Is A Different One Than The One I Actually Used, But All The Same Principle. Place The Keepers In The Valve, Lower The Collar On The Top To Center Everything, The USE YOUR BODY WEIGHT To Push The Rod = Keepers Go Back In. DO NOT HIT THIS WITH A HAMMER!!!!!!! Like I Mentioned Above, Place A Bunch Of Rags Under The Valve Face So The Valve Doesn't Move. Last edited by Ben; 12-21-2006 at 04:16 PM..

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12-19-2006, 06:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gairloch Dreaming of apexes Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 5,313 Thanks: 139 Thanked 296 Times in 264 Posts Blog Entries: 4 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	It is a major PITA. You'll wish you had taken it to a machine shop. I've used this one and while it was enough of a pain that it took 2 of us to do the job we did get it done. Make sure you have something handy like a magnet wand to fish out the keepers. Guaranteed to drop into your head at least once Has anyone ever used a spring compressor like this? Seems like there would be clearance issues.

12-19-2006, 06:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
AndrewMcG Its not lag, Its foreplay Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 756 Thanks: 6 Thanked 19 Times in 17 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Or you can get the one at www.toyotool.com and do it while the head is on the motor.

12-19-2006, 07:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
PHOENIX Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On Hiatus....... Posts: 9,266 Thanks: 92 Thanked 292 Times in 224 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (49/100% )	one of my mechanics at my work was telling me how they all use spark plug sockets to take the valves out. I guess the magnet inside snags up the keepers or something, and the socket is perfectly made for something like this. I can't say i've tested this, but it sounds like a cheap way of getting the valves out.

12-19-2006, 10:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gairloch Dreaming of apexes Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 5,313 Thanks: 139 Thanked 296 Times in 264 Posts Blog Entries: 4 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	Hmm .. I might have to try to find a spark plug socket that is magnetic if I end up doing this again. Mine have rubber sleeves in 'em.

12-19-2006, 11:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ben Same In The End Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oceanside, CA / Reno, NV Posts: 4,274 Thanks: 20 Thanked 309 Times in 284 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (16/100% )	There Is No Need For A SST. I Did This Myself. All You Need To A 13mm Socket. Center It Over The Valve Spring And Hit It With A Hammer. This Will Cause The Keepers To Pop Out. Super Easy.

12-20-2006, 10:20 AM	#9 (permalink)
sengk No Skills Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 153 Thanks: 3 Thanked 12 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	btw my heads are already off the block.

12-20-2006, 11:41 PM	#12 (permalink)
Gairloch Dreaming of apexes Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 5,313 Thanks: 139 Thanked 296 Times in 264 Posts Blog Entries: 4 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	Ben, could you link us a pic for that tool? When I did it we put a dab of oil on the keeper then used a screwdriver and a magnet wand to put them back on the valve.

12-21-2006, 04:03 PM	#14 (permalink)
Ben Same In The End Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oceanside, CA / Reno, NV Posts: 4,274 Thanks: 20 Thanked 309 Times in 284 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (16/100% )	^ Glad I Was Able To Help. I'll Try And Find A Pic Of The Tool......

12-21-2006, 04:09 PM	#16 (permalink)
MrGrimm n00b Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 408 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	i use an air spring compressor to build heads all day long at work. not toyota, but john deere, so im sure its alot different. but we use the same method to take keepers out in disassembly (socket)

12-21-2006, 04:47 PM	#17 (permalink)
sengk No Skills Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 153 Thanks: 3 Thanked 12 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Thanks, but I can't even imagine how that would work. Or I should say i can't imagine what the proper way of using that is.

12-22-2006, 10:35 PM	#18 (permalink)
Ben Same In The End Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oceanside, CA / Reno, NV Posts: 4,274 Thanks: 20 Thanked 309 Times in 284 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (16/100% )	It's Almost As Easy As Taking The Keepers Out. It Just Sounds A Little Confusing.