What have you found that works well to remove and install the Subaru Valve Keepers?  

The old tried and true method of removal works well but there is limited space for a valve spring compressor to install the valve keepers.

 

Here's one i found:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lisle-Corp-New-Magnetic-Valve-Keeper-and-Remover-Installer-Tool-/400591129879?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item5d45178d17&vxp=mtr

My experience with tools similar to that is they are way too big for these tiny Subaru valves. That's the biggest problem with the various spring compressors I've used as well.

 

The magnetic "finger" type removers work well if the spring is already compressed. Getting them back in is another story.

 

If you have a bench to mount the head on the pivot type spring compressors work well if you get a small enough adapter to fit on these valves.

Otherwise, the clamp around style spring compressors seem to work best for these.

Hemostats.

Work extremely well. They have small tips and they lock.

Keep  your magnetic pickup tool handy.

There are two I know of made especially for Subys. Here's link to one. The other is $85

http://www.euroexportinc.com/subaru-valve-spring-compressor-tool

Since I  don't have a shop or do them regularly. I "made" a tool for my uses.

I use a c clamp to compress springs with this homemade item

 

 

O.

Edited November 17, 201312 yr by ocei77

oh my word every valve spring compressor i've tried sucks terribly and is a huge waste of time on Subaru's.  i started a thread before about what to use but haven't found anything yet that's priced reasonably.  find that thread for other recommendations to chck into.

 

they'll work fine for a few springs, some, many will rub the sides, then you gotta constantly fiddle with opening it up, sinking it in the head, releasing to get it back out, open it up wide to get it around the head, positioning the proper length, compressing, then only one retainer comes out because of the awkward angle, rubbing, and non-flat compression..so you gotta monkey around for a few minutes, and push/work the other retainer around while it's still in place in the valve to a side it'll come out on when compressed, recompress as far as you can before hitting the side of the head, then re-monkey around and adjust the compressor tool to move it to the next spring and do it again 10 more times.....it's awful.

 

it also depends which engine you're talking about.  they make a nifty, reasonably priced, little bolt on compressor for EJ25's and turbo engines with the recessed valve springs. i welded up a bolt on bar to do something similar on all EJ engines but it barely worked once and the flat plate steel i used was too thin and weak and bent under the pressure.

 

i finally just cut a notch in a spark plug socket, ground it, ran allthread and a nut through it, put some large washers on the opposite end to place up under my arm and can compress all the springs by hand while removing/installing keepers through the notch cut in the side of the spark plug. some people will find compressing them by hand intolerable or impossible, so depends on you, but i'm glad to have a way other than spring compressors.

Thanks for the ideas.  

here's my thread that got limited response:

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/124419-what-valve-spring-compressor-do-you-use/

 

the "C-Clamp" style compressors i've used suck really bad for Subaru EJ heads, so not sure what they're referring too - but all the setting and resetting and unsetting and cock-eyed compression due to limited space...was my experience so far.  if i buy something i want it to be really good and quick, not time consuming and cumbersome.  i'll just suck it up and muscle them out by hand with my hand tool before i do that.

What have you found that works well to remove and install the Subaru Valve Keepers?  

The old tried and true method of removal works well but there is limited space for a valve spring compressor to install the valve keepers.

 

Here's one i found:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lisle-Corp-New-Magnetic-Valve-Keeper-and-Remover-Installer-Tool-/400591129879?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item5d45178d17&vxp=mtr

I used this tool to take the valves out on my EJ25D heads it works, getting it out is easy.. block the other side so the valve will stop opening.. getting it back in is not as easy, it take a lot of force get get the keeper to snap into place.. my palm ended up hurting and I took a few 5 min rest.

 

having said that I did all 16 valves and lapped them, I never felt a 256K motor run so smooth..

 

I got mine from Amazon, just make sure you clean the tool off because of the pattern for the handle will leave you with silver flakes all over you.

 

Sorry about the messy room

 

Edited November 22, 201312 yr by 1-3-2-4