Is the tool used to compress valve springs in a flathead specific to the Flathead, or will a generic one (say from the "Summit" catalogue) work. If not where can you get one of these?

Thanks

 

AFAIK, it's flathead only...you might give Early Ford Parts in San Dimas a call (talk the owner, not his kid)...they may have one, or know someone that does.

There's that Ford flathead shop out in Irwindale...somewhere. I've never been there, but the phone number was listed in that throwaway phone book that last time I looked.

If you want the number, I'll see if I can find it.

Hacienda Village Meats has a stack of those phonebooks (they're free) on a rack inside the door.

 

I got mine from Speedway

Valve Guide Removal Tool

Even with this I couldn't shift most of my valves (motor had stood for a few years)

In the end I used a OHV valve spring compressor to compress the spring, remove the valve locks and valve

I tapped a hole in a piece of 1/8" flat steel with the end rounded off so it can be pushed between the coils in the spring

I dropped a piece of studding through the valve guide, engaged the hole in the steel bar then used a slide hammer to remove the guide

You will need the removal tool to refit the guides

Good Luck

Steve

 

jreilly57

Here is the one you need and its a good one the 30 inch on Ebay Item number: 180273522669 another one Item number: 290250755558 another Item number: 220265194678

So there available and the 30 inch one is the best for leverage. Hope this will help you out.
Also if you get a stuck Valve Guide once you have the locks at the bottom of the Valve off and the Valve itself.
Take a piece of brass stock or even a socket if you want to and give it a shot with a hammer.
Sometimes the valve springs can give you a problem if the guide is down in.
A real good too for compressing the valve springs is one that is used for small engines, its thin and has the strength to compress by a screw down handle, just make sure you have a good hold on the spring.

 

The above posters have real good advise, chances are the valve assemblies are not going to come out the way they went in.

Last year I bought an old flathead engine for parts (cracked block). I spent last Sunday tearing it down and took a few pictures relevant to valve removal.

Six or seven years ago I had my first experience with flatheads when I rebuilt the engine in my 50. Not being an internet user at the time or knowing anybody with flathead experience all I had to guide me was the shop manual. After several hours I had managed to get one valve assembly out and decided it was time to try a different approach.

I bought two cheap 5/8" wrenches, ground them thin and made this tool:



One of the wrenches is ground quite thin and I slip it into the spring as high up as I can get it in. The other fits underneath the spring around the cone part of the retainer:



I then raise the valve and tap it back down on a wrench to release the keepers from the cone:



Once the valve is out of the way, if I have a good bite on the spring I can slip it out below the guide:



I've not yet had a spring come flying from the tool but I think it could happen. I release the tension from the spring before removing it from the valley and wear eye protection.

Once the spring is out, the valve guide can be persuaded into the valley. I use a ½" brass pipe nipple and large persuader:



It often takes a pretty good wallop to get the guide to move. No wonder that pry bar wouldn't move it.

There have been quite a variety of tools created over the years for servicing flathead valves. Here's the best web link I have found on this subject.

 

What a great tool! Solves a lot of headache.

A friend made one up for me and it worked like a charm 🙂

 

DIY affair. Works great.