I had a single 918 break, but it was at the bottom coil not the top which caused me to conclude it was a manufacturers defect considering the low mileage on the springs when I discovered it. I got lucky too in that there was no engine damage(the spring held together as if it wasn't broken). I didn't discover it until I was pulling the heads apart to ship them out to have them CNCed. When I went to lift the retainer and spring off the bottom coil stuck to the head. Because yours was such a large group it's unlikely that they all are defective. If the upper coil is the last to bind and yours all broke near the top coil that makes the argument that your geometry is out of wack. You better do some very close inspection before you put this engine back together.

 

I am looking for some info on how to change the spring setup.The 918 springs are supposed to be set up at 1.80 and I checked mine and it measured about 1.631 so i am wondering if it is putting too much stress on the springs. I can't find info on how to change that

 

Any answer/thoughts on this? I see the stripe on the one but not the others. Where did the springs come from?

 

I saw on your post on the forum these were bought from a place in their garage sale section (or something like that), were they used? Do they all have the blue stripe? Something is smelling very fishy with these springs. With the history on this forum that the 918's with the blue stripes have, these failures are totally out of character from what would be expected.

 

Awww an here I thought you were serious until I saw that. Everyone who has ever called Comp's help line knows they're total retards. They tried to tell me an LSK lobe anything over a 213 duration would destroy my valvetrain in under 1000 miles.

 

well i got it back togethor tonight. All the spring heights were good. So I got a new st of 918s. The new set looks alot differant in color, don't know why but they seem to fit bette on the heads. The other springs i had to pry the springs over to get the locks in. I also used the stock length pushrods this time and not the 7.425. They all were not broken but all but two on the pass side were and the drivers side only had two that were broken. I hope the springs were just **** because the old springs didn't set straight on the heads but the new ones do set good. I guess i will see what happens.

 

Did you use beehive springs or dual springs or what?

 

i used the beehive springs 918

 

Glad to see you got it together and its running good.

I am concerned with your description of the original spring installation. Comp has the tolerances of the spring and retainer dimensions in their catalog. Based on your description, the failure on the top coil now makes sense. What I am concerned about is that it sounds like someone is passing off Comp 918 knock offs. I would contact Comp about this, they may want a sample spring.

 

Do ya think the springs were just crap? I have never seen them break at the retainer before.

 

If the retainer is a force fit, that's exactly where they will break. Based on your installation description, if I understand what you had to do to get them on, no real surprise there. Sounds like the new ones went right in with a "non sloppy" fit, which should be much better.

You may want to pull a valve cover after 100 miles and just peak at them to make sure it didn't happen again. Might save you in the long run.

 

yea the comp retainers seemed almost too big to fit in the spring. I used the stock retainers since comp said that the stock ones would work good. I thought the retainers were a little loose in the spring but they fit the exact same way in the stock spring. And yes I will check them probably at 50 miles just to make sure everything is ok.

 

Just exactly what do you mean when you say you had to "pry" the springs over to get the locks in? That doesn't sound right and neither does your springs not setting straight in your heads as you describe it. If your springs don't "sit stright" as you call it you don't button the engine up and turn the key before you do something to make sure the springs ARE setting straight. This is beginning to sound more and more like the assembly process leaves a lot to be desired.

 

I think what he said was the retainers had to be forced into the springs.

 

im guessing it is the length of the pushrods, im guessing you will need 7.4 unless those were indeed the right size. goodluck

 

I have broken two of my 918s also. Comp Cams has bad 918 springs, and they have not stop selling them.

 

The retainers fit fine in the spring but I had to pry the spring over to get it lined up with the valve. It's like the springs were not straight or the valve stems were bent and I know the valves are fine. I drove it about 25 miles today and pulled the valve covers and so far so good. I ran the valves down just to look how close the springs are to binding and I can fit a 100 thousdants feeler gauge between the springs with no problem. So I don't think I am binding or anything.

 

Looking at the springs and at the blue stripe, something is very fishy - my guess is that those were not new 918s.

 

I agree, They sure didn't look like the others I bought.

 

Kind of looks like coil bind. An installed height of 1.631" and .570"+ lift will definitely coil bind these springs. Why is the installed height so low? It should be around 1.80". Double check that height and make sure. If the height is really 1.63"ish then more than likely that's the reason for the spring failures.

Richard