valve seals

[cwhubb]

Hello, does anybody know of another way to keep the valve from dropping when replacing seals other than using an air compresser?

 

[BeastlyBirdie]

Air is the better solution, but....and I am not saying this is the best, but I have been involved in using this.....dental pick in spark plug hole. Pushing against the valve. Works fine in an emergency, but if you are doing all of them, find air.

 

[Pistol Pete]

Back when I was building bikes, if we wanted to lock up the motor (to break a bolt loose) we would stuff a soft rope through the sparkplug hole and fill up the cylinder. When you turn the motor over slightly, the piston would come up and compress the rope and stop rotation. Using a soft rope prevents damage to the piston or cyl. walls as screwdriver or other hard instrument jammed in there might. In a car motor, as long as you're on the compression stroke for that particular cylinder, it should serve to hold the valves up as well. When you're done with your valvetrain work, reverse the rotation and pull the rope out.

 

[cwhubb]

Thanks for the ideas

 

[RustyRatRod]

What's wrong with air?

 

[BeastlyBirdie]

If the valve has already dropped, there would be no compression. I guess you put enough rope in that it coils around? My experience was from a dropped keeper, leading to a side of the road fix.
If you use a pick, don't use it like a lever. Just push the valve up with the 90° end. But again, air is a much better choice.

 

[IQ52]

What's wrong with air?

It's really hard to see.

 

[coloradodave]

Not in Los Angeles...

 

[ArtH]

I've used compressed air but I was on pins and needles the whole time. I like the rope idea better. Remove all spark plugs, bring number 1 piston close to TDC (about 10 degrees BTDC) feed in the rope. Turn the engine by hand you will feel the piston come up against the rope and that should have the valves supported. When done with that cylinder, turn the crank 1/4 and go to the next cylinder in the firing order.