Im in the process of changing valve springs and it is giving me trouble. The locks are stuck in the seats. The heads are on the car and there is compressed air in the cylinder. Why does the valve open when I compress the spring?

 

You have to break the locks loose. Get a socket, whatever size, just so the the socket will be bigger than the lock and just sit on the retainer. Take the socket, put it on the retainer and hit it with a hammer a couple of times...it should break them loose for ya.

 

add a litle more compressed air and do as 50stanger states, I like the rope method as it's a sure way not to drop a valve

 

Watch out for the locks flying.

 

can you explain this method?

 

rotate the motor over until piston is at bottom dead center, then go to wal-mart and get some nylon rope about the diameter of a pencil or slightly bigger, the rope must have some rigidity to it so you can push it into the spark plug hole and fish as much as you can in and when you can't get anymore in, often you'll get 10-12 feet in , then rotate the motor over bringing the piston the tdc or well at least until the motor won't rotate due to it being compressed in and pushed against valves, when it doesthis you are now ready to remove the locks and retainers on that cylinder

 

thanks alot i never heard that before, i'll have try it next time i need to remove springs