I want to remove my valves to check my valve seats for cracks but the valve spring compressor im using right now "OEM Rental " keeps on slipping off the spring and hitting my hand , so with that being said i am looking into the summit "lever"type spring compressor that " i think " mounts on the rocker stud . Does anyone own this tool ? , if so what do you think about it , is it a reliable tool ? , does it make the job of compressing valve springs easier ? your opinion would be appreciated

 

Yes, I have one of those but you will need the head bolted to something solid for it to work, or you're just going to fight with it. Are the heads on the vehicle?

 

no , the are off , would you say it is worth the money ?

 

Use a C-clamp style spring compressor if the heads are off.

 

What he said.

Can you post a picture of the tool you rented?

 

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web..._T|GRP2083____ This kind? I have one of these. It works fine with the heads off. Kind of. You need to put the head on some wood blocks on the ground and step on it to hold it in place while you use the lever. And wear a glove because it hurts your hand after a couple valves. And put something under the valve so it doesnt slide or you'll never get the retainer on. You'll also want a spare rocker nut so you dont wear out a good self locking one.

So yeah it's a little awkward, but it's less than ten bucks.

 

The lever style that screws on the rocker studs is the way to go. No more knuckle busting and scraping parts for me. I bought it at a local shop but it's almost identical to this one: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-906784/

Just my 2 cents.

 

here it is .

 

I have a valve spring compressor that I got from Carquest years back and I love the thing. Has two finger like extensions that go on the sides of the spring. You can turn clockwise or counterclockwise to loosen or tighten the tension it puts on the spring but once on there just bring the top over and it just squeezes the spring right up. It slips off sometimes but usually cuz I get in a hurry with it. I just looked at carquest but don't see it. Not sure how to describe it. Like a jaw pliers kinda? IDK Guess that really dosn't help. I will keep looking.

 

Ugh.

There are better tools out there, but I want you to try something first. If you can put the head on something so the valves you are working on have plenty of free space below them, use an appropriate size socket (something like a 5/8" deep well is what I use) and a hammer and give each retainer a whack. Make sure you dont hit the valve stem locks. This will break the locks free of the retainer (they stick pretty good once the engine has been fired) and should make things a little easier. Try that first before you go to a different tool. If you hit it really hard you can actually pop the locks right off the valve and everything will go flying across the garage. Dont do that. Just a nice firm hit.

 

Yeah that too to loosen the locks. Haven't tried the lever tool. Did a google search for mine and it came up for Matco tools. I put valve spring compresion tool into google and it came up. Matco sells it for $42. I think I paid 25 for mine but that was 10 years ago. Anyway, I love it. So much easier than the huge C-clamp. But yeah, loosen the valve locks first. Good luck!

 

i only used it because it was a rental , if i were to buy a tool i would buy one that is worth the mone ,and yes the retainers did seem stuck , i will try this,so what tool should i go with ?

 

To me this is the best tool. I have it and to me it is the best one to use if the heads are off the engine. And it has 2 different sizes for different size springs.

 

I have the one pictured above, and the lever arm you were looking at that attaches to the rocker arm stud. The best ones are like the one above, but operated with compressed air. They're very expensive though. For stock-ish springs, the one above will work fine. Sears sells it, among other places. Not too costly. You could do it with the lever arm as well, but the head has to be attached to something solid or its going to move and slide around on you as you try to pry against it.