Crane Valve Spring Compressor 99473-1
Be aware that these do NOT fit 7/16" studs, only 3/8". You CAN open the hole up BUT you're going to need one hell of a drill bit and alot of oil to drill through a half inch of hardened steel.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown, WV
summit, jegs are both out of stock, I orderd one from summit and they keep pushing there date back it says now they will have them 3/20. I really dont want to wait that long hopeing a small shop or sponser on here will chime in and have a few on a shelf. LE told me to stick with 3/8 so thats what I did so this will work. Thanks
If you're swapping out single springs the KD tool that shbox uses on his 'how to' tutorial works good. I saw Jegs has a estimated availability date on the Crane tool of Feb 20.
Yep, I use the KD TOOLS 3271..works great and I got mine for less than 20bills.
Last edited by jlpz; Feb 11, 2013 at 04:26 PM.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,985
Likes: 112
IMHO this tool is worth every $. both springs at same time per cyl
drilled out for 7/16 studs but have also used it after on a 3/8 stud motor I have
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Brett Foote A couple things with the KD compressor is that the hooks have sharp corners and edges, take a file and knock the edge off. That goes with the second point is that if you don't get the tool on all the way the hook slips off the spring as you're compressing it which isn't good for the springs as it is possible to scratch the wire causing a stress area that could break down the road.
If you're careful you'll have no problems.
If you're careful you'll have no problems.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 1
From: Kingfisher Oklahoma
If you use the Crane tool get a pair of 3/8s studs and swap them in as you go and reinstall the 7/16s when you are done, rocker studs are cake to swap, drilling hardened metal not so much cake.
And to all the people saying to get the kd tool... I would rather park my car and not drive it than do a spring change with the kd tool.
You can literally do a cylinder a minute with the crane tool. 
^^^Ramair is right, my plugs are such a pain in the *** to get out plus the header tubes shroud some of the plug holes. I don't even remove the spark plugs. I just roll each cylinder to tdc. The valve guide seals generally hold the valves up and if they don't the valves only go down a little.
On the KD tool I was just pointing out it as a alternative for the unavailable Crane tool, I haven't drank any KD tool Koolaid or anything. I would like to buy the Crane tool myself.
On the KD tool I was just pointing out it as a alternative for the unavailable Crane tool, I haven't drank any KD tool Koolaid or anything. I would like to buy the Crane tool myself.
^^^Ramair is right, my plugs are such a pain in the *** to get out plus the header tubes shroud some of the plug holes. I don't even remove the spark plugs. I just roll each cylinder to tdc. The valve guide seals generally hold the valves up and if they don't the valves only go down a little.
On the KD tool I was just pointing out it as a alternative for the unavailable Crane tool, I haven't drank any KD tool Koolaid or anything. I would like to buy the Crane tool myself.
On the KD tool I was just pointing out it as a alternative for the unavailable Crane tool, I haven't drank any KD tool Koolaid or anything. I would like to buy the Crane tool myself.
Well when I installed my crank hub last time I made sure that #1 was at TDC, and that the arrow on the damper was pointing up. If you have no reference like that then you'll have to pull #1 plug to find TDC compression and look at the damper and go from there.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown, WV
Well got the kd tool. The kd tool works great for the stock springs but im having problems with my new dual springs. I cant get it to compress the inside spring. Any tricks? I dont want to damage the new spring. Thanks