8BA Valve locks with head on?
 

Anybody figure out how to install valve locks on 8BA with the heads on? Mine fell out when I tried to compress spring to get at valve adjustment. Not much room for fingers.
Thanks

Re: 8BA Valve locks with head on?
 

Not much help now, but it is much easier on a further build to grind clearance for the adjustor.

Re: 8BA Valve locks with head on?
 

Use air pressure to hold against the closed valves. then use a valve bar or other suitable tool to hold spring pressure while installing the keepers , I put a dab of grease on the valve stems or the keepers to hold them in place , years ago I used a magnet against the valve assembly to hold the keepers on until the spring retainer is in place.

Re: 8BA Valve locks with head on?
 

I would pack the valve area with a thin rope, then the valve bar and grease as stated above.

Re: 8BA Valve locks with head on?
 

When adjusting valves you can take the thread pitch and find out how much one turn will move the adjuster. Then divide that number by 6 and see how much one flat on the adjuster will move. You can now bring the lifter up so a wrench will fit make the adjustment now put the lifter back on base circle and see what you have. Time consuming but after a couple of valves you will get the hang of it. Are the lifter bores drilled?
To answer your post asked for a answer the rope trick will work.



R

Re: 8BA Valve locks with head on?
 

If you're trying to "collapse" the spring enough to get the keys in, a small conventional "Briggs-Stratton" type manual spring compressor will get it done!

See the photo below, we've used this tool on occasion ourselves!

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. This tool is available almost anywhere, runs about 20.00 or so and sometimes is very handy to have nearby!

Re: 8BA Valve locks with head on?
 

Thanks guys, after about three weeks and a bruised finger, I think the locks are back in. I took out the spark plug and could see the valve, so I put a long 3/8 bolt with a speaker magnet attached on the valve head. Then I pried up the spring and keeper with a Speedway pry bar and set two square head 3/8 bolts under the keeper, raising the keeper about 9/16. With everything magnetized, I used stainless tweezers and a stainless surgical pick to place keepers on valve stem. After lots of tries, I think they are in. Now to go back and finish adjusting the valves.


The problem comes from re-grinding the cam shaft for solid, adjustable lifters. The lifter now sits down in the lifter boss in the block, and is difficult to get at. It's worse on the 75 degree V-12 as the valley is narrower than on a V-8, and there are 24 valves.
Abe.

Re: 8BA Valve locks with head on?
 

That is the reason for grinding the clearance into the side of the lifter bores. Without them it is difficult to get to the adjuster with a wrench.

Re: 8BA Valve locks with head on?
 

We always seem to discover the "woulda, coulda, shoulda's" after the fact... But next time, (if we remember)… Chap