Valve Spring Keepers

[telly]

I'm attempting to change the valve stem seals and I have the spring compressed, but the keepers don't want to release. Any ideas?

Thanks, Telly

[AustinScott]

give them a tap, they will pop right off.

[telly]

Maybe I don't have the springs compressed properly. They seem to be compressing upwards rather than downward toward the block, so they aren't releasing the pressure on the keepers.

Am I hooking up the valve spring compressor incorrectly?

Wouldn't you know...the camera battery is dead. I'll include pictures as soon as I have a charge.

[tasian]

sounds like the springs are just sticking to the keepers/valves if the heads are off just hold the spring down and give the valve a tap with a hammer from the other side and if you have the heads still on the block then hit the spring compressor or the spring but don't forget to have something to stop the valve from falling in

[telly]

Just watched a YouTube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob_4-F-m1FI

Maybe I have my problem figured out. I didn't push down on the spring to release pressure on the keepers. ROOKIE

[fleetsidelarry]

telly, I've never used one of the type that I think you're using but I believe it can only work as you're describing: grabs the spring near the bottom and compresses it upwards against the retainer, right?

at that point you should be able to push the spring/retainer down towards the head to release the keepers. what are you using to hold the valve up?

oop, too late, you got it!

[cableguy0]

The best thing to do is hit each spring with a soft face hammer before you try to compress the spring.

[telly]

The Rookie is still showing thru...

Who can speculate as to what I've done wrong. I was only able to change the valve stem seals on the #1 because I couldn't get the other cylinders to TDC (or I didn't feel comfortable that they were at TDC). So I buttoned everything up and now it won't start. Help!!

And how do I know when the other 5 cylinders are TDC. It seemed easy for #1, but then I tried to get #5, then #3, and I just didn't feel good about it. It sucks to not know what you're doing!

[cableguy0]

did you hook up an air hose to spark plug hole to hold the valves up? If you dont charge the cylinder with air you will never get the valve springs off. The valve will keep falling into the cylinder.

[telly]

I don't have an air compressor. I stuffed nylon rope into the plug hole to fill the space and hold the valves closed, but I don't think I got the other cylinders to TDC and that caused the problem of not being able to get the keepers out. ??? This is the first time I have attempted this.

[telly]

When I get cylinder #1 to TDC, is it as easy as turning the crank until the distributor points at the next plug? Is that how I find 5, 3, 6, 2, and 4?

[cableguy0]

The easiest way to know when a particular cylinder has the piston up is to remove the spark plug. stick a screwdriver in the hole and roll the engine over by hand until the screwdriver stops moving upward. Your no start issue is like the valve adjustment being wrong.

[telly]

Thanks. I'll read up on the valve adjustment. And even though I'm frustrated, I'll give it another shot at getting the other valve stem seals done.

[cableguy0]

Just take a break drink a beer and relax for a few. It will go a lot smoother

[fleetsidelarry]

telly, remember that just because the piston is at TDC DOESN'T mean that it's at firing position (valves closed). If you were going by the timing mark on the damper you may have been on the wrong cycle and adjusted the valves wrong. If you had the distributor rotor pointed at the #1 position on the cap, you should have been OK. make any sense?

[telly]

Thanks Larry. It makes perfect sense. I went back and took off the distributor cap and marked all the positions. Seems to be making the work go smoother. Quitting for the evening (6 of the 12 seals replaced) and will finish cylinders 6, 2, and 4 in the morning.

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I'll post the results tomorrow (sleeping with my fingers crossed).

[telly]

I got all the seals changed and they sure needed it. The old ones were hard and brittle. But now the truck won't start. It will turn over but it won't run. Any ideas as to what I screwed up? Man, I wish I knew what I was doing...

[cableguy0]

More than likely the valve adjustment. IM assuming its an inline 6. You need to bring the engine to #1 tdc. Remove the #1 plug and rotate the engine until you feel air pushing out of the spark plug hole. After that bring the mark on the balancer around to meet the 0 on the timing tab. Your now at #1tdc. WHen your at #1 tdc adjust intake valve 1,2,4 and exhaust 1,3,5 now turn the engine to #6 tdc adjust intake valve 3,5,6 and exhaust valve 2,4,6. To get to #6tdc just turn the engine one complete revolution from #1 tdc and line the timing mark up to 0 again.

[telly]

I hate to admit it, but I simply had a connector to the ignition coil come loose. Once I reattached it the truck started right up.

Now I need to adjust the valves and reset the timing...another day another adventure.

Thanks again to everyone for your input and advice. It is much appreciated.