valve spring compressor

Status
Not open for further replies.

fowler

New member
Messages
5,463
Reaction score
17
Location
Bullsbrook West Aus
a new project for fabroman

a few months ago there was talk of a diy valve spring compressor

i said i had seen a good one at our training college
but i never had a reason to make one till now

its built very much like the bead breaker
and works very much the same

it was made to compress the springs on a cat 3512 head so this one is way too big for what u want

this one is welded to the bench due to the force involved
and it was roughly knocked up out of scrap steel so it requires tidying up and slight modifications to suit small engines
the one at TAFE was on a stand that allowed you to move it

we tryed the ones that look like a G clamp but the issues with those is the lack of shock u can apply so the collets release from their taper, then stuff starts bending/breaking.
we tryed both manual and pneumatic ones

originally it pivoted at the handle and at the actual press plate
as is clear we welded it because it was clear it was a bad idea to pivot it there
the press is made of a washer welded inside a piece of pipe

there is a second piece of 4ft pipe that fits inside the handle as an extension
u can hang a counter weight off the end so u have two hands to insert the collets
we used a 20kg D shackle

its useful if u have a pen magnet to remove the collets and a tiny srew driver to install them

gotta add that it is important the u dont put your head over the handle, there is alot of stored energy in the springs and the handle is a large metal bar
and dont put your fingers inside the press plate for the same reason
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0754.jpg
    IMG_0754.jpg
    102.4 KB · Views: 10
  • IMG_0761.jpg
    IMG_0761.jpg
    102.8 KB · Views: 10
  • IMG_0760.jpg
    IMG_0760.jpg
    65.1 KB · Views: 9
  • IMG_0756.jpg
    IMG_0756.jpg
    111.1 KB · Views: 13

OzFab

Well-known member
Messages
15,615
Reaction score
68
Location
Warwick Qld, Australia
a new project for fabroman

:huh: You mean for me to recreate smaller scale?

it was made to compress the springs on a cat 3512 head so this one is way too big for what u want

Yeah, maybe just a bit...

To be honest,
1. I'd forgotten about that :oops:
2. As the valve springs on an OHV engine are easy to remove, I think the one you're referring to was for the L head engines (scissor type compressor).

Not to criticise but, wouldn't you get more leverage if the pivot point was higher than the head or, at least, above the bench (much like the bead breaker).

Also, it probably wouldn't be too difficult to create a locking mechanism so the collets could be removed/installed (a bit more) safely...
 

fowler

New member
Messages
5,463
Reaction score
17
Location
Bullsbrook West Aus
Ha yes it requires improvement

I should have also put the pivot for the press closer to the rear

As for a lock
Yes would be useful
But I still wouldn't trust it
If there's a chance it can fail then I don't give it a chance to get me
The consiquences are too high

Like I said it was knocked together using scrap steel in about 15 mins

That bend in the handle wasn't strategic, it was just the shape that was in the bin
The whole thing only required
4 holes
5 cuts
7 welds
 

OzFab

Well-known member
Messages
15,615
Reaction score
68
Location
Warwick Qld, Australia
Well, in that case, nice job :thumbsup:

A lock system would be rather simple; a saddle made of 1/2" x 2" flat bar attached to an upright at the correct height & a 1/2" steel pin or HT bolt going across the saddle once the lever bar is in the saddle
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top