Who makes a good valve spring compressor bar for a ford flathead? I'm sure they are not all created equal. What other tools are must have's for first time flathead owners?
Hey bud, how's it going? I've heard good reviews of the Speedway one, but I made my own as it's a pretty simple tool. Is the one in the pic one that you have? Flatman
I don't have one yet. I used a friends recently which was an old piece that was was quite long and easy to use. I looked around for one at a swap meet and the new ones where short and ****py looking. I'd prefer a good quality piece that works well.
The one pictured is a KD or copy of one; I collect the things, always looking for an easy way (HAHAHAHA!) and that is my personal favorite, better than KRW or Snapon. Most bestest way doesn't require one even for early engines: Look for the old KD C-clamp puller and one of the several types of devices made to yank the retainer without moving the guide. You will not believe the luxury of life...
I haven't had a chance to really use these tools yet -- I got 2 of the C-clamp pullers and one of those retainer hooks over the winter. What I have seen so far though is that the clamp wouldn't budge a couple of stuck guides that I tried it on and the hook tool has to be in really good shape when you buy it. The little ****** that catches the retainer on mine was bent somewhat and I cannot keep it in the retainer when I rap it :-( When I get back to the engines I will have to see if I can easily straighten my hook and hopefully the oil I added will help the guides. Might have to dig out the second c-clamp and get it for sale in the cl***ifieds though, its not like I need 2 of them (Yet)
Flathead Jack sells a new version of the KD retainer. A nice piece that does not have the issues of a used one. About the same price as finding a "vintage" one.
I picked up an interesting one that I'm anxious to try. It works like a slide hammer with a weight that sides down and forces open two arms that is supposed to help get stuck guides out. I haven't used it amd I'll try to post a picture of what I'm talking about.
I copied this idea, but left the tool at my Auto Machinist school. I need to make another one. http://www.clubfte.com/users/dmptrkr/fhvalvetool.html
And...all fussing is needed only on pre-1949 valve trains. On the late ones, valves can be pulled with guides in place (debur valves if valves and guides will be reused) and the guide then driven striaght down with a clear access for whatever violence is needed. I've never seen a guide the might C clamp couldn't move, but some did give me that "Oh-oh...my head is gonna be right in the way when the puller explodes" feeling...
That's about where I was when I just backed it off, I wanted to make sure I had the tool more than 1 day before I broke it -- they are not selling cheap. I didn't need to take the valves out at the time so I figured it wouldn't hurt to oil everything up before I try again. I also got one of those tools that goes around the head of the valve so that you can rap down on the top of the guide. I moved a couple of guides down far enough to get the retainers out, but then the spring was compressed too far to get the c-clamp into the guide :-( I definitely still need to learn how to use these tools properly.
I bought two of the long bar type from Dennis Carpenter's. One broke in half. I made one from a 3 foot crowbar. A bit of grinding and it works good.
The flathead Jack valve spring bar is $78 and the valve spring retainer hook is $40. What about the long/thin wrench for adjusting the lifters and the tool for holding the lifters stationary, where would I find those? http://www.flatheadjack.com/142.html http://www.flatheadjack.com/142.html
I stock the long double-ended one like shown in the picture at top. Sells for $39.50. Admittedly, it's not the highest quality tool I've ever owned, but the same one has functioned properly on numerous valve removal jobs so far. It bent slightly in the middle, but of course, I was leaning pretty hard on it at the time. They seem most useful in prying out the valve springs, and occasionally to push other valve components around to get the job done. I use ALL the special tools.....sometimes on any one engine! The original purpose of the tool is to pull the guide down enough to remove the horseshoe clip, but waaay too often the guides are so badly stuck that my prying only managed to break off the lower half of the valve guide. Thus, the use of my ***ortment of valve tools for these operations. Still, I wouldnt be without one. It's also used to install the new valve ***emblies, where of course, everything goes together easily.......... Mac VP www.flatheadv8.com
So there we have the difference between repro KD and KD...one repro broken, one bent. My KD bar has survived every abuse I've heaped on it since about 1967...and it was old then. For many years, it was the longest and strongest tool I owned, so it served for anything that needed prying or just a good hard whack. I wish I could post pics of flathead valve tools...everyone made them, and every tool company tried to come up with gizmos to make a horrible job easier, so there are LOTS of different types and many variants of the standard ones. In flathead valve removal, if you still have more functional fingers than there are sparkplugs on a flathead, and the oil pan is less than half full of your blood, you did pretty well... I had a guide come out easily, once...damn near dumped me on my head. What a shock...
IMO, Jack has the best bar type tool on the market, I have dissasembled 7 flatty's in the last two years, so I am experienced. this tool has a raised hump to give you leverage against the guide (essential), and the forked portion is thin but very strong, which allows you to easily get it into the groove in the guide. I have loaned mine to several freinds who have either bent or broken their cheaper tools, and they are amazed at how much better it works. If you have badly frozen guides probably the only thing that will get them out is a hammer and drift, but this thing will get the rest, and it makes ***embly a snap. It's well worth the extra bucks.
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