Had a titanium lock go flying about 25 years ago in the neighbor's garage. As far as I know it has never been found. That was the first and only time I ever messed with non magnetic locks.

 

I’ve done a couple sets and just moved the piston to the top for each cylinder. Valves pretty much just stayed put and didn’t drop even once the springs were off. Only had to pull maybe a couple back up and then they’d stay put. They don’t drop far but you don’t want to forget to have that piston at the top lol. Just my experience. Probably a good idea to use the rope.

 

VERY good point!!

 

Some VERY good ideas here, with lots of obviously good, experienced engine guys. I have 2 more that I personally do. #1 is:
I NEVER use shop rags. Even if perfectly clean, they can introduce lint. I always use paper towels. Probably because in my 43 years in the shop I have seen too many shop rags that have been sent to the cleaners, only to come back with some small metal pieces/chips still embedded in them, which can contaminate whatever youre trying to keep clean.
#2 is: Keep a nice, strongish telescoping pencil type magnet handy. Can bail you out of trouble quickly. I actually use them to R&R the keepers....

 

Same here Grinder. Shop rags go in trash can, not the washing machine. I only buy and use lint free Scott shop towels in the yellow box…not the blue ones.

 

In 1973 I worked in a Honda motorcycle shop. That same year. Honda started importing the Civic model. There was no touch up paint or any paint that matched yet in the entire U.S. at that time. My close friend was fired because he was washing the newly arrived cars with.....Shop rags. He didn't notice all the small scratches he was putting into the paint while it was wet. When it dried, the owner went into orbit and fired him immediately. That's where I learned a valuable lesson from another man's mistake, so I'm very careful what I use shop rags for!!

 

Hey guys I just got my valve spring kit, they're a PAC 1208x spring 160 lbs @ 1.800 installed height, 482 lbs @ 1.100 open, 460 lbs per inch rate, coil bind 1.000. The titanium retainers are +.050" and .060" locators. My question is how is the +.050" retainers gonna affect my installed height and should I be looking into getting shims as well before I start installing all this stuff?? Thanks

 

At the risk of being Caption Obvious, they will raise it +.050" from whatever it would otherwise have been.

Are you saying you're trying to set up valve springs and you don't already have some? Again, at the risk of being Caption Obvious, ...

 

Yes I'm aware they add that amount but will the locators that are .060" subtract that away?

Also not trying to be captain obvious but did you at least read the post?? I clearly have valve springs

Only did this once 6 years ago and need a mini refresher I guess

 

You need to measure the install height with a spring mic to know where you sit. You need to include the spring seat base when measuring. If its had a valve job done you could be over the recommended height and need shims to get the correct height.

 

Okay that's just what I needed to know. Thank you sir. I have a spring mic somewhere....

 

This has a good illustration at the end of the article.
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/16...espring-height

 

No. They will subtract .060" from whatever it would have been otherwise.

The result of +.050" keepers and .060" thick locators will be -.010" of installed height from whatever they would have otherwise been.

What they would otherwise have been is dependent on head casting tolerance, spring pocket machining tolerance, wear, valve seat grinding, valve grinding, etc. etc. etc. IOW a whole buncha stuff you have no way to know anything about. In a word, RANDOM. .010" less than random is still random.

Since you don't KNOW what they would otherwise have been, stack up your parts, measure with your spring mic, and shim accordingly. Whatever they would otherwise have been is irrelevant. That's why we use measuring tools instead of worrying about that ... other.

 

I totally agree. Too much brain strain figuring adding this and subtracting that, and a great chance of making a mistake. Just install the seals and measure what you have using a spring mic. Let's say installed height is supposed to be 1.800". Using the spring mic, you have 1.860". Subtract the 1.800" from actual mic reading, and you find you need a .060" shim. Add 1 .060" shim. Re-measure and you should now have 1.800". It is best to use as few shims as possible. So using one .060" shim is better than using two shims, a .040" and a .020". Why? Foreign material could possibly get between the 2 shims. One shim reduces that chance. Also, because years ago (many!), I was told that the more shims you use, the greater the spring temps will be, because the heat dissipation to the head is reduced due to "layers" of shims. Don't know if thats true, or not......

 

Wow, guess ive been lucky? Ive used compressed air dozens of times over the last 20+ years and NEVER had a single problem.

 

Here is cylinder stock LS cylinder head with a new valve. I am installing a BTR beehive spring package.

First we need to know the spring pocket, to valve retainer height. In this case, It comes in at around 1.855.

Now the spring package uses a hardened seat at the bottom. It is .045 thick at the base. The shims available are .015, .030, .060. So if we add .015 to the .045 spring retainer we get .060 of thickness that will take up space between the spring and the head. This will get us right around the 1.800 install height we are looking for.
the other way is that they make different locks that move the upper spring retainer up or down.

In my case, a pack of 16 count 0.015 shims cost just under 2 dollars... it cost more to ship them then the product. Or I have to order more spare parts to get enough for free shipping....


Retainer to spring pocket

Retainer to spring pocket bare measurement.

Verify the measurement.

Exhaust valve with .045 seat and .015 shim measurement

Verify measurement

Same procedure on intake side. .045 seatand .015 shim measurement

Verify the measurement

 

Excellent! Thank you sir for all the info. Appreciate it

 

No problem!

Just make sure you verify the measurements. The spring mics can be off. They do have adjustment though.

 

Isky Racing offers a nice micro shim kit that includes .010" shims.

 

Thanks for the tip!