Removing valve keepers

[40cpe]

I'm trying to remove the valve assemblies in a '52-53 Merc engine. The exhaust guides broke loose relatively easily by going under the valve with the crooked tool and knocking them down. None of the intake guides will budge. So I'm trying to remove the keepers and pull the valves. These are the rotator style, and I can't get the cup to lift up any way I try. Any suggestions are welcome.

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

If you have the regular pickle fork to pull down the guides when you installing them. put the pickle fork under the valve stem next to the lifter, pry the valve open and wake the head of the valve with a hammer, the keepers will pop right out. Don't worry about bending the valve, your going to put new one in anyway. Walt

[40cpe]

Originally Posted by Walt Dupont--Me.

If you have the regular pickle fork to pull down the guides when you installing them. put the pickle fork under the valve stem next to the lifter, pry the valve open and wake the head of the valve with a hammer, the keepers will pop right out. Don't worry about bending the valve, your going to put new one in anyway. Walt

Thanks Walt, I was able to get a few loose with this method but it took 10-20 raps on the head for each one. The others have refused to loosen, so far.

I'm doing this with the lifter on the heel of the cam, correct?

[Ross F-1]

It kinda takes two people to do this, but if you compress the spring 1/4" or more, without lifting the valve, then put a pickle fork that is as wide as the little keeper retainer, under the retainer and give it a pop, the retainer can be broken free of the keepers. Now with "your other hand" you have to knock the keepers off the valve stem before you let go of the spring.

[40cpe]

Ross, if I understand what you are saying, the fork that goes under the retainer cup after the spring is lifted has to be wider than the keepers but narrow enough to catch the shoulder of the cup. I tried making such but I'm working by myself and the tool has to be placed exactly right for the keepers to go past it so the cup can lift. Is that confusing?

I'm soaking the remaining guides. I'll get them one way or the other.

[Ross F-1]

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Exactly, but in practice I found it wasn't so critical to get the right spread (match the retainer lip). I used a screwdriver once to catch the lip of the retainer and it popped loose. On some valves I could use my OHV valve spring compressor (which locks in the compressed mode) which freed up my hands for the keepers. My sons are never around when I need them, so I understand your situation!

[Pete]

I never could figure out what the attraction for a pickle fork or Ford valve bar was.
Try one of these.

[big job]

Originally Posted by Pete

I never could figure out what the attraction for a pickle fork or Ford valve bar was.
Try one of these.

The only attraction for a Ford valve bar, was when the engine was new.
only way is a deep socket and a big hammer good thing to do is place a
magnet in there to catch flying keepers, they seem to have wings...

[40cpe]

Originally Posted by Ross F-1

Exactly, but in practice I found it wasn't so critical to get the right spread (match the retainer lip). I used a screwdriver once to catch the lip of the retainer and it popped loose. On some valves I could use my OHV valve spring compressor (which locks in the compressed mode) which freed up my hands for the keepers. My sons are never around when I need them, so I understand your situation!

Thanks Ross. I modified my tool design after thinking through about the tolerance on the fork to hold the keeper. I got them all out using it. It still took a sharp rap on the valve head to loosen them.

Thanks to all for helping me think through this. I'm sure I'll have more questions before this is over.

[GEOFFNZ]

The tool Pete uses works really well. Cheers.