USING ROPE in a VALVE SPRING SWAP?

mark67ss · Jun 9, 2005

I am in the process as many of you already know of swapping back in the second spring in the valve springs on my motor. The motor is in the car. I have seen many people use compressed air but I dont think my compressor will keep up with it and dont want to chance the valve falling into the cylinder.

I have heard of a method in which someone said to take a 3/8 inch rope about three feet long and feed it into the spark plug hole tying a knot in the end so you dont lose it. Then bring up the piston and the rope will push up against the valves allowing you to use the spring compressor to compress the spring while the valve stays closed. Has anyone done this? How does it work? I am assuming you want to make sure the piston is on the way up before feeding the rope in since I cant see how you can feed it in with the piston at TDC. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Mark

corbetts_auto · Jun 9, 2005

I had not heard that one before, but then again I'm not an engine guy. Sounds like a good idea to me. You should use a clean nylon rope, you wouldn't want to leave anything behind in the cylinder.

soman · Jun 9, 2005

I did it to my 68 with a 327 about 20 years ago, and i have to say it works great. I put the piston about half way up filled the cylinder with rope then hand cranked the engine (with a half inch breaker bar)till it was hard to move the piston. You want to make sure theres enough rope in the cylinder to hold the valve tight to the seat. When i was finished i back rotated the engine just enough to get the rope out and was done.

Dennis

dawg · Jun 9, 2005

yeah I did that before and wont again lol.

what you do is feed the rope in and turn the motor (by hand) to take up the space in the cylinder.
My problem was after that cylinder was done the rope got knotted and twisted.
I could not pull it back out.
I ended up taking the heads off anyhow.
try compressed air itll work.
I seen a guy use a tire inflator and he had no problems.

Everett#2390 · Jun 9, 2005

The rope trick still works fine. Use the white clothesline.

BonzoHansen · Jun 9, 2005

I have heard about the rope trick a few times. But I made an adapter that attaches to my compression gauge hose and then use compressed air.

Granny's 69 · Jun 9, 2005

Yes, it works... I recently replaced the valve stem seals on my 327 using this method.

-Mark

zdld17 · Jun 10, 2005

wont take more than a quart of air > unless your clys leak a gallon.

mark67ss · Jun 10, 2005

Thanks everyone for all your help. I used some nautical 3/8 inch rope and it worked great. Did it this morning at 3:30 in the morning(ugh) Only have three more to do but so far so good. It is a little more time consuming but at least I know it will not drop . Works excellent though.

Mark
TOOFUN

c4boom · Jun 11, 2005

how would you drop a valve if it was at tdc for each spring

USING ROPE in a VALVE SPRING SWAP?

mark67ss

corbetts_auto

soman

dawg

Everett#2390

BonzoHansen

Granny's 69

zdld17

mark67ss

c4boom

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