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VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR?

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droog
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Joined: 03 Dec 2019
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PostPosted: 13:15 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR? Reply with quote
Hello guys,

I'm going to be dismantling the cylinder head of my CBR and need a valve spring compressor tool and was wondering if anyone with experience in this area reckons the cheap Ebay spring compressor tools are up to the job?

The more expensive Lazer tool looks identical to the cheaper Ebay tool (both tools come in a plastic box with 16/19/23/25/30mm adaptors) the only difference is the Lazer tool has a nice black powder coated finish whereas the Ebay tool is bare metal.

I get the impression that they come out of the same Chinese factory.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
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steve the grease
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Joined: 26 Jan 2018
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PostPosted: 13:37 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Re: VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR? Reply with quote
Droog wrote:
Hello guys,

I'm going to be dismantling the cylinder head of my CBR and need a valve spring compressor tool and was wondering if anyone with experience in this area reckons the cheap Ebay spring compressor tools are up to the job?

The more expensive Lazer tool looks identical to the cheaper Ebay tool (both tools come in a plastic box with 16/19/23/25/30mm adaptors) the only difference is the Lazer tool has a nice black powder coated finish whereas the Ebay tool is bare metal.

I get the impression that they come out of the same Chinese factory.

Thanks in advance for any advice.


Vincent Motorcycles used to have the sales pitch " The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten".

That applies to tools as well as Motorcycles, which I guess is why mechanics use expensive snap-on and Mac tools and so forth.

Maybe the same Chinese factory does make them all , maybe the non Laser , cheap ebay ones are the ones that don't pass quality control, or maybe it's just batch overrun ( they order 1000, you make 1500) but I will tell you this.

When one ( or more ) of the Fu*"*ing tiny C$^&ing little collets has flown off to the other side of the workshop, never to be seen again, and you haven't any spares, and they are on back order from Japan at £5.75 each....... you will wish you had bought the most expensive valve spring compressor there is to buy. ( and magnetic pick up tool, and pick tool) How do I know this, I hear you ask?
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droog
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PostPosted: 13:48 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Re: VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR? Reply with quote
Yep - I hear your words of wisdom steve the grease and you are totally right Very Happy

To be honest the kit on Ebay is so cheap it's worth a punt - if it looks suspect or likely to fail I'll knuckle down and get the proper kit.

Thanks for the wise advice - I appreciate getting the perspective of people with knowledge and experience. Very Happy
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Riejufixing
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Joined: 24 Jun 2018
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PostPosted: 13:53 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
It would help to know the exact tools you're looking at. Can you post links?
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steve the grease
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PostPosted: 14:05 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Re: VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR? Reply with quote
Droog wrote:
Yep - I hear your words of wisdom steve the grease and you are totally right Very Happy

To be honest the kit on Ebay is so cheap it's worth a punt - if it looks suspect or likely to fail I'll knuckle down and get the proper kit.

Thanks for the wise advice - I appreciate getting the perspective of people with knowledge and experience. Very Happy


well , maybe the latter.

Hey, and a tiny little blob of grease makes them stay where you put them .
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Last edited by steve the grease on 15:44 - 20 Jan 2020; edited 1 time in total
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droog
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PostPosted: 14:34 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
Riejufixing wrote:
It would help to know the exact tools you're looking at. Can you post links?


Yep links here + links to the Lazer kit:

https://tinyurl.com/v73mk4n

https://tinyurl.com/u56qojw
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Riejufixing
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Joined: 24 Jun 2018
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PostPosted: 14:47 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
Droog wrote:

https://tinyurl.com/v73mk4n

https://tinyurl.com/u56qojw

Can't see a lot of difference TBH. I like the thread type on the Lazer one better than the el cheapo one, but that's the only thing, and I can't see there being a lot of difference in operation.
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Easy-X
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PostPosted: 14:52 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
The cheap ones work perfectly well... for occasional use and if you're relatively dexterous. On that latter point the threads aren't great and IIRC you need a third arm to keep everything lined up before tightening down.

IMHO spend max money on quality tools you use regularly. For rare or one-off use it seems a little extravagant.
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droog
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PostPosted: 15:04 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yeah I agree Riejufixing - there doesn't seem to be any difference between the Ebay and the Lazer item - apart from a possibly slightly smoother operation and a nice glossy finish.

Yeah Easy-X - If I was doing this professionally then I would buy professional kit - but it's a relatively simple tool for an occasional job - so no point in going nuts and breaking the bank - and at that price it's worth checking out.
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Bhud
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PostPosted: 15:58 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Re: VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR? Reply with quote
Droog wrote:
Hello guys,

I'm going to be dismantling the cylinder head of my CBR and need a valve spring compressor tool and was wondering if anyone with experience in this area reckons the cheap Ebay spring compressor tools are up to the job?


I've got the cheap Ebay one, but mine's powder finished in black.
It's good enough and does the job. The metal's very thin and it flexes a bit when you use it, but it works. It looks like a G-clamp but it's much weaker than one. However, it's more than strong enough to compress valve springs on your CBR.
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Evil Hans
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PostPosted: 16:11 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Re: VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR? Reply with quote
steve the grease wrote:

When one ( or more ) of the Fu*"*ing tiny C$^&ing little collets has flown off to the other side of the workshop, never to be seen again


Wherever possible, I do jobs like this inside a big plastic bag.
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droog
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PostPosted: 16:17 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Re: VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR? Reply with quote
Bhud wrote:
I've got the cheap Ebay one, but mine's powder finished in black. It's good enough and does the job. The metal's very thin and it flexes a bit when you use it, but it works. It looks like a G-clamp but it's much weaker than one. However, it's more than strong enough to compress valve springs on your CBR.


Thanks for the info Bhud, yeah, I was worried that their might be flex on such a cheap item - but if you say it's good enough for the job then that's encouraging.
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droog
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PostPosted: 16:19 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Re: VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR? Reply with quote
Evil Hans wrote:
steve the grease wrote:

When one ( or more ) of the Fu*"*ing tiny C$^&ing little collets has flown off to the other side of the workshop, never to be seen again


Wherever possible, I do jobs like this inside a big plastic bag.


lol Laughing yeah - f**k knows where some of those bolts and washers end up - it's as if they ping off into another dimension . . . Laughing
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Riejufixing
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PostPosted: 16:39 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Re: VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR? Reply with quote
Droog wrote:
lol Laughing yeah - f**k knows where some of those bolts and washers end up - it's as if they ping off into another dimension . . . Laughing


We used to call such things "pingf*ckits". Anything with a spring or twangy thing in it should be ;labelled: "Warning: Contains pingf*ckit" (for obvious reasons)

With valve compressors, a very light tap on the end of the screw if necessary after just taking up the tension releases the stiction of the collets before you've put a lot of springy force on them which you don't want all released at once.
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droog
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PostPosted: 17:07 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Re: VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR? Reply with quote
Riejufixing wrote:
Droog wrote:
lol Laughing yeah - f**k knows where some of those bolts and washers end up - it's as if they ping off into another dimension . . . Laughing


We used to call such things "pingf*ckits". Anything with a spring or twangy thing in it should be ;labelled: "Warning: Contains pingf*ckit" (for obvious reasons)

With valve compressors, a very light tap on the end of the screw if necessary after just taking up the tension releases the stiction of the collets before you've put a lot of springy force on them which you don't want all released at once.


Thanks for the warning Riejufixing - I'll look out for that Smile
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Suntan Sid
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Joined: 07 May 2009
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PostPosted: 22:21 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
Same as Bhud, I've got the cheap ebay kit, it works as it and I've never had a problem with it.
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stinkwheel
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Joined: 12 Jul 2004
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PostPosted: 22:32 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Re: VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR? Reply with quote
Droog wrote:


lol Laughing yeah - f**k knows where some of those bolts and washers end up - it's as if they ping off into another dimension . . . Laughing


Agreed. I needed to cut off four, 2" lengths of flatbar for making brackets at the weekend. Not once but twice, one of the cut-off sections dropped down from the vice, hit my foot and totally vanished. Didn't even hear it hit the ground after hitting my foot (and yes, I checked in my boot and the turnups of my trousers). I landed up cutting six and nearly ran out of stock for making the other bits I'd actually bought it for.
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Fizzer Thou
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PostPosted: 23:18 - 20 Jan 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
I bought one of these back in 1975 so as to replace a burnt out valve on my CB125s

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIUMPH-VALVE-SPRING-COMPRESSOR-TOOL37/153629121917?hash=item23c5025d7d:g:w8sAAOSwy9hdbnHL

I still have it in a modified form as it has been used on a multitude of engines,even a car engine.

The adapters in the other kits look useful,but I made my own ones from a cut down section of a Renthal trials ally handlebars,suitably modified.The biggest challenge was on a CBX1000 six cylinder engine,when I lapped in all of the valves.

What I do recommend is some form of assembly lubricant on the valve stem and to hold the split collets in place when backing off the spring compressor.Some people use engine oil.I have been using a number of lubricants but they are in the garage and I do not recollect the name of the stuff.

But there is other stuff,like this https://www.millersoils.co.uk/products/0/781

Or this https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-1038-red-line-assembly-lubricant.aspx
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Ayrton
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PostPosted: 01:10 - 21 Jan 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
Droog wrote:
Riejufixing wrote:
It would help to know the exact tools you're looking at. Can you post links?


Yep links here + links to the Lazer kit:

https://tinyurl.com/v73mk4n

https://tinyurl.com/u56qojw

Ive got one almost the same as that cheap one ( I think the only difference is I got a magnet with it) and it works fine for something I might use very rarely.
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droog
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PostPosted: 10:59 - 21 Jan 2020    Post subject: Re: VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR? Reply with quote
stinkwheel wrote:
Droog wrote:


lol Laughing yeah - f**k knows where some of those bolts and washers end up - it's as if they ping off into another dimension . . . Laughing


Agreed. I needed to cut off four, 2" lengths of flatbar for making brackets at the weekend. Not once but twice, one of the cut-off sections dropped down from the vice, hit my foot and totally vanished. Didn't even hear it hit the ground after hitting my foot (and yes, I checked in my boot and the turnups of my trousers). I landed up cutting six and nearly ran out of stock for making the other bits I'd actually bought it for.


Yeah, it's demonic, an insult to the laws of physics and makes you question your own rationality Laughing
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droog
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PostPosted: 11:02 - 21 Jan 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
Fizzer Thou wrote:
I bought one of these back in 1975 so as to replace a burnt out valve on my CB125s

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIUMPH-VALVE-SPRING-COMPRESSOR-TOOL37/153629121917?hash=item23c5025d7d:g:w8sAAOSwy9hdbnHL

I still have it in a modified form as it has been used on a multitude of engines,even a car engine.

The adapters in the other kits look useful,but I made my own ones from a cut down section of a Renthal trials ally handlebars,suitably modified.The biggest challenge was on a CBX1000 six cylinder engine,when I lapped in all of the valves.

What I do recommend is some form of assembly lubricant on the valve stem and to hold the split collets in place when backing off the spring compressor.Some people use engine oil.I have been using a number of lubricants but they are in the garage and I do not recollect the name of the stuff.

But there is other stuff,like this https://www.millersoils.co.uk/products/0/781

Or this https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-1038-red-line-assembly-lubricant.aspx


Cheers for the info Fizzer Thou - the Triumph tool looks quality - like it was built to last.

Working on that 6 cylinder CBX must have been quite a job.

Thanks for the heads up on the assembly lubricant - I got a bottle of the Millers for lubing the cams and lifters for the shim change - looks like I'll be using a lot more of it now the head is coming off . . . Laughing

Last edited by droog on 11:11 - 21 Jan 2020; edited 1 time in total
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droog
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PostPosted: 11:06 - 21 Jan 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
Suntan Sid wrote:
Same as Bhud, I've got the cheap ebay kit, it works as it and I've never had a problem with it.


Thanks Sid - yeah - I reckon if I keep it aligned straight and level and go in slowly (fnaarr) I should be able to avoid the distortion/flex some people talk about with this item. Very Happy
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droog
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PostPosted: 11:09 - 21 Jan 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ayrton wrote:
Ive got one almost the same as that cheap one ( I think the only difference is I got a magnet with it) and it works fine for something I might use very rarely.


Thanks mate - good to know - feeling more confident now. Very Happy
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