Valve Spring Compressor

[nrowles 25]

I am trying to remove the valves on my 1981 C-145 to clean them.  My buddy let me borrow the compressor in the picture below.  He was sleeping when I picked them up and he is still sleeping and I was trying to get this done tonight so I look here for help.  These don't look right to me.  It seems like the heads should be turned the other way.  And the heads crank apart not together.  Everything seems backwards.  Either I'm missing something, this is the wrong tool or something needs adjusted.

 

[KC9KAS 4,744]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3ZecZW68E8

[nrowles 25]

I actually did watch that video.  Whiled what he is doing with the tool he has I completely understand, my tool does not work like that.  It must be the wrong compressor for this job.  If you look at my picture, I would expect the "hollowed out" part of the heads to face each other not face away from each other.  How is the spring supposed to seat in what I have?  Although I didn't take a good picture, the compressor I have only cranks outward and has a button release to close.  I would think it should crank inward to compress the spring.

[953 nut 60,251]

If you insert the compressor between the bottom of the spring and the engine block you will find that it compresses the spring allowing you to remove the valve keepers, give it a try.

[nrowles 25]

If you insert the compressor between the bottom of the spring and the engine block you will find that it compresses the spring allowing you to remove the valve keepers, give it a try.

 

Thanks.  I am able to compress the spring now but I cannot figure out how to remove the keepers.  Is there a trick to this?  Videos that I see they are using a tool that does not compress against the engine block like mine does so they can move the spring around while compressed.  With the tool I'm using I can't wiggle the tool around because it pulls off the spring.  I really did try for about half an hour and didn't get one off.  Frustrated.

[rmaynard 16,344]

I've never had good luck with that kind of tool. I use one of these on all of my Kohler valve jobs.

 

 

Cheap ($19.00 on Amazon.com) but effective.

[nrowles 25]

I got them.  I read another thread stating they tapped the valve with a hammer.  Was very easy once I knew that's what I had to do.  Thanks.

[Forest Road 594]

I'm with Bob. The giant C-clamp makes the job a breeze.

[slammer302 2,156]

I have one like Bob's it works great on flat head engines